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BIRD*   HOMES 


GLOBULAR    NEST    OF   THE    LONG-BILLED    MARSH    WREN. 
{The young  bird  <wjs  just  leaving  the  nest  as  the  photograph  'was  taken,) 


BIRD  HOMES.  THE  NESTS 

EGGS  AND  BREEDING  HABITS  OF 
THE  LAND  BIRDS  BREEDING  IN  THE 
EASTERN  UNITED  STATES;  WITH 
HINTS  ON  THE  REARING  AND  PHO- 
TOGRAPHING OF  YOUNG  BIRDS 

BY 

A.  RADCLYFFE  DUGMORE 


3ffugfrafeb  t»tf0  $0ofograj$6  from  (nature  6g  f0e 


NEW   YORK  | 

DOUBLEDAY   &    McCLURE   CO. 

IQOO 


COPYRIGHT,  1900,  BY 
DOUBLEDAY  &  McCLURE  CO. 


UN1V 


.  OF  CAUF.  LIBRARY,  LOS 


Stack 
Annex 

QU 


TO   MY    MOTHER 

THIS   BOOK    IS   AFFECTIONATELY 

DEDICATED 


CONTENTS 
PART  I 

:HAPTER  PAGE 

I.  INTRODUCTORY 3 

II.  BIRDS'  NESTS  AND  EGGS 1 1 

III.  EGG-COLLECTING  AND  ITS  OBJECT  .         .         .        .16 

IV.  PHOTOGRAPHING  NESTS  AND  YOUNG  BIRDS     .        .        .21 
V.  HINTS  ON  THE  REARING  AND  KEEPING  OF  BIRDS      .        .     24 

VI.  NOTES  .........     27 

APPROXIMATE  DATES  WHEN  BIRDS  BEGIN  TO  NEST         .     29 

PART   II 

I.  OPEN  NESTS  ON  THE  GROUND,  IN  OPEN  FIELDS,  MARSHES, 

AND  GENERALLY  OPEN  COUNTRY  .  .  .  .  35 
II.  OPEN  NESTS  IN  WOODS,  THICKETS,  SWAMPY  THICKETS  .  52 
III.  COVERED  OR  ARCHED  NESTS  ON  GROUND  : 

PART  I.  OPEN  COUNTRY   .         .         .         .         -73 
PART  II.  IN  WOODS  AND  THICKETS  .         .         -74 


Contents 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

IV.  OPEN  NESTS  IN  MARSHES,  REEDS.  SAW-GRASS,  AND  Low 

BUSHES  IN  OPEN  COUNTRY 77 

V.  NESTS  IN  BUILDINGS,  BRIDGES,  WALLS,  ROCKS,  BANKS, 
AMONG  ROOTS,  BRUSH  HEAPS,  AND  IN  HOLES  IN  THE 
GROUND 81 

VI.  NESTS  IN  HOLES  IN  TREES,  STUMPS,  OR  LOGS        .         .     96 

VII.  SEMI-PENSILE,  PENSILE,  OR  HANGING  NESTS    .         .         .114 

VIII.  OPEN  NESTS  IN  TREES,  BUSHES,  AND  VINES  : 

PART  I.  LARGE  NESTS  IN  TREES        .         .         .122 

PART  II.  NESTS  IN  TREES,   BUSHES,  OR  VINES    .    152 

IX.  NESTS  SADDLED  ON  BRANCHES \2 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 

GLOBULAR  NEST  OF  THE  LONG-BILLED  MARSH  WREN  (COLOUR) 

Frontispiece 

PAGE 

YOUNG  CHICKADEE  AT  TIME  OF  LEAVING  NEST  i 

YOUNG  CATBIRD,  A  FEW  DAYS  AFTER  LEAVING  NEST     .         ,  iii 

ROBIN  JUST  OUT  OF  NEST    .......  vi 

BLUEBIRD,  THREE  WEEKS  OLD      ......  vii 

A  TRIO  OF  BLUEBIRDS  ON  THE  DAY  OF  LEAVING  THEIR  NEST  ix 

A  NESTLING  SONG  SPARROW x 

YOUNG  BALTIMORE  ORIOLES xi 

CHICKADEES  JUST  OUT  OF  NEST            xiv 

IMMATURE  MOCKING-BIRD xv 

BLUEBIRD,  FOUR  WEEKS  OLD       ......  xvi 

FACING  PAGE 

WOOD  THRUSH  ON  NEST     .......  4 

MALE  ROSE-BREASTED  GROSBEAK,  ONE  YEAR  OLD         .         .  8 

CRESTED   FLYCATCHERS,  Two  WEEKS  BEFORE  LEAVING  NEST  12 

WHITE-EYED  VIREO  ON  NEST 14 

YOUNG  BALTIMORE  ORIOLES  AND  NEST          .        .         .  14 


List  of  Illustrations 

FACING   PAGE 

RUFFED  GROUSE  ON  NEST    .        .        .        .        .        .        .18 

YOUNG  REDSTARTS,  DAY  OF  LEAVING  NEST  .  .  .18 

YOUNG  RED-EYED  VIREOS  READY  TO  LEAVE  NEST  .  .  22 
YOUNG  YELLOW-BILLED  CUCKOOS,  TWENTY-FOUR  HOURS 

BEFORE  LEAVING  NEST 22 

MALE  ROSE-BREASTED  GROSBEAK,  ONE  YEAR  OLD,  TAKING 

SUN  BATH 27 

BOB-WHITE'S  NEST  FULL  OF  EGGS  (COLOUR)  ...  36 
NEST  AND  EGGS  OF  BOBOLINK,  ON  THE  GROUND  IN  A 

MEADOW 40 

PLATE  B :  COMMON  EGGS  (COLOUR) 44 

NEST  AND  EGGS  OF  FIELD  SPARROW,  ON  GROUND  IN  FIELD 

OF  DEAD  GRASS 46 

SONG  SPARROW'S  NEST 48 

NEST  AND  EGGS  OF  BROWN  THRASHER  ....  50 

NEST  OF  BROWN  THRASHER  ON  THE  GROUND  ...  50 

NEST  AND  EGGS  OF  RUFFED  GROUSE  ....  52 

NEST  OF  THE  WORM-EATING  WARBLER  IN  A  BANK  .  .  64 
NEST  OF  BLUE-WINGED  WARBLER  ON  GROUND  IN  DAMP 

SCRUB       .........  66 

NEST  OF  MARYLAND  YELLOW-THROAT  (COLOUR)  .  .  68 

NEST  AND  EGGS  OF  MARYLAND  YELLOW-THROAT  .  .  70 

NEST  OF  WILSON'S  THRUSH  (COLOUR)  ....  72 

MEADOW-LARK'S  ARCHED  NEST  74 

NEST  AND  EGGS  OF  GRASSHOPPER,  OR  YELLOW-WINGED, 

SPARROW 74 


List  of  Illustrations 

FACING   PAGE 

ARCHED  OR   DOMED  NEST  OF  OVEN-BIRD,  ON  THE  GROUND 

IN  WOODS        ........       76 

NEST  OF  RED-WINGED  BLACKBIRD  (COLOUR)          ...       78 
NEST  OF  PHCEBE  UNDER  A  STONE  BRIDGE      ....       86 

NEST  AND  EGGS  OF  ROUGH-WINGED  SWALLOW      ...       86 

PLATE  C  :  COMMON  EGGS  (COLOUR) 94 

THE  DOWNY  WOODPECKER'S  HOME  (COLOUR)      .         .         .102 
NEST  AND  EGGS  OF  CRESTED  FLYCATCHER    .         .         .         .106 

NEST  AND  EGGS  OF  BLUEBIRD  IN  THE  BRANCH  OF  AN  APPLE- 
TREE         .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .112 

NEST  OF  ORCHARD  ORIOLE  .         .         .         .         .         .114 

PENDANT  NEST  OF  THE  BALTIMORE  ORIOLE  (COLOUR)  .  .116 
A  FAIR  EXAMPLE  OF  THE  RED-EYED  VIREO'S  NEST  .  .118 
BASKET-SHAPED  NEST  OF  THE  WARBLING  VIREO  .  .  .118 
HANGING  NEST  OF  THE  WHITE-EYED  VIREO  (COLOUR)  .  .120 

PLATE  A  :  COMMON  EGGS  (COLOUR) 130 

NEST  AND  EGGS  OF  THE  CAROLINA  DOVE  .  .  .  -132 
NEST  OF  BLUE  JAY  IN  AN  APPLE-TREE  .  .  .  .132 
NEST  AND  EGGS  OF  YELLOW-BILLED  CUCKOO  (COLOUR)  .  136 

NEST  AND  EGGS  OF  BLUE  JAY 138 

NEST  AND  EGGS  OF  CHIPPING  SPARROW        .         .         .         .     144 

PLATE  D  :  COMMON  EGGS  (COLOUR) 146 

INDIGO-BIRD'S  NEST  ATTACHED  TO  UPRIGHT  STEMS  .  .150 
NEST  OF  SCARLET  TANAGER  IN  APPLE-TREE,  NINE  FEET  FROM 

GROUND 152 

NEST  OF  THE  CEDAR-BIRD  (COLOUR)   .         .         .         .  154 


List  of  Illustrations 

FACING    PAGE 

NEST   OF   YELLOW    WARBLER    IN    ELDER    BUSH,    FIVE    FEET 

FROM  GROUND 150 

NEST  AND  EGGS  OF  CHESTNUT-SIDED  WARBLER  IN  AZALEA, 

Two  FEET  FROM  GROUND  .  .  .  .  .158 
YELLOW-BREASTED  CHAT'S  NEST  (COLOUR)  .  .  .  .164 
NEST  AND  EGGS  OF  CATBIRD  IN  TANGLE  OF  VINES,  THREE 

FEET  FROM  GROUND 166 

NEST  OF  WOOD  THRUSH,  WITH  PIECES  OF  NEWSPAPER  USED 

IN  CONSTRUCTION 168 

NEST  AND  EGGS  OF  RUBY-THROATED  HUMMING-BIRD,  NATURAL 

SIZE 172 

NEST  OF  LEAST  FLYCATCHER  (COLOUR)  .  .  .  .174 


A  bird's  nest.      .Mark  it  well,  within,  without, 
Xo  tool  had  he  that  wrought,  no  knife  to  cut, 
No  nail  to  fix,  no  bodkin  to  insert, 
Xo  glue  to  join  ;  his  little  beak  was  all. 
And  yet  how  neatly  finish'd  !  What  nice  hand, 
With  every  implement  and  means  of  art, 
And  twenty  years'  apprenticeship  to  boot, 
Could  make  me  such  another?" — HURDIS. 


BIRD    HOMES 


VOL.  XXVIII.— 137. 


AFTERWARD. 


[OCT. 


tears  were  falling  on  his  head, 
they  started  to  withdraw. 

But  she  saw  them  and  stretched  out  her  arms. 
"  Oh,  dear  boys,"  she  cried,  "  you  have  kept 


Very  quietly,     your  promise!      Let  me  thank  you.     Come  in 
come  in! " 

And  Marshall,  with  a  happy  face,  sprang  up 
and  brought  them  to  his  mother. 


THE    END. 


THE    RUBY-THROATED    HUMMING-BIRD. 


BY  HENRY  HALES. 


THE   brilliant  little   humming-birds  are  the 
most  exquisite  of  all  birds.    They  are  called  the 
gems  of  bird  life.     They  are  more.      No  gems 
in  any  diadem  sparkle  as  they  sparkle.     They 
flash  with  a  radiance  and  brilliancy  not  equaled 
by  any  other  of  nature's  brightest  jewels,  even 
among  the  gaudy  butterflies.     Every  change  of 
light    or    movement    reveals   a   new   color    on 
their  iridescent  feathers,  changing  like  the  glint 
of  light  on  a  diamond,  but  with  stronger  effect 
in  color.     Not  known  outside  of  the  American 
continent  and  its  islands,  what  a  surprise  they 
must  have  been  to  the  early  explorers!      And 
they  still  keep  surprising  us  as  new  species  are 
discovered.      Not  many  years   ago   one  hun- 
dred   and    fifty  species   was    supposed    to  be 
about  the  number;  now  it  is  nearly  .four  hun- 
dred—about as  many  as  all  the  species  of  birds 
breeding  in  the  United  States.     What  a  variety 
of  lovely  forms  and  delicate,  fantastic,  eccen- 
tric freaks  in  feather,  as  well  as  color— like  the 
unique    tropical    orchids!       Nature    seems    to 


exhaust  herself  in  fascinating,  delightful  oddi 
ties.  Had  they  been  known  in  the  old-work 
fairy-lands,  we  think  they  must  have  figurec 
as  ariel  sprites,  so  quickly  do  they  presen 
themselves,  so  quickly  disappear. 

We  of  the  chilly  North  must  be  satisfiec 
with  this  one  representative  of  this  numerou 
little  family,  and  be  thankful  for  that ;  and  as 
there  is  a  great  similarity  in  their  habits  of  living, 
flying,  building,  and  feeding,  our  little  Ruby- 
throat  must,  in  a  degree,  stand  as  a  deputy  for 
all  his  Southern  brethren,  whom  he  visits  every 
winter.  He  sips  the  charming  flowers  of  the 
tropics,  returning  in  the  spring.  He  arrives  in 
Florida  early  in  March,  gradually  going  north  as 
the  flowers  open  before  him,  then  going  farther 
north,  passing  the  northern  boundary  of  the 
United  States  about  the  ist  of  June,  breeding 
as  far  north  as  the  Saskatchewan  plains,  west 
to  the  Missouri  Valley  and  Texas.  Some  of 
them  remain  in  Florida. 

The  flight  of  this  little  bird  is  more  remark- 


THE    RUBY-THROATED    HUMMING-BIRD. 


able  than  that  of  the  eagle.  We  can  understand 
the  flapping  of  the  eagle's  immense  wings 
supporting  a  comparatively  light  body.  But 
our  little  bird  has  a  plump  body ;  his  wings 
are  not  wide,  but  long,  so  he  must  move  them 
rapidly  to  sustain  his  weight ;  and  this  he  can 
do  to  perfection.  The  vibrations  of  his  wings 
are  so  rapid  as  to  make  them  almost  invisible. 
He  can  use  them  to  sustain  himself  in  mid-air, 
with  his  body  as  motionless  as  if  perched  on  a 
twig.  In  this  way  he  can  sip  the  nectar  of  the 
delicate,  fine-stemmed  flowers  without  alighting 
for  a  moment.  He  never  alights  while  so 
engaged.  He  moves  from  flower  to  flower  with 
a  graceful  and  rapid  movement,  sometimes 
chasing  away  a  bee  or  humming-bird  moth,  of 
which  he  is  very  jealous ;  nor  is  he  much  more 
favorably  impressed  with  any  small  birds  that 
seem  in  his  way.  He  knows  his  power  of 
flight,  and  he  has  no  fear  of  any  other  bird. 

The  humming-bird  builds  on  the  upper  side 
of  a  branch,  a  branch  generally  about  the  size 
of  the  nest.  The  nest  is  beautifully  felted  with 
fine  white  vegetable  down  and  studded  on  the 
outside  with  fine  lichens  and  minute  specks  of 
bark  like  the  branch  itself. 

They  do  not  seem  to  retire  to  secluded 
places  to  build ;  they  are  as  eccentric  in  their 
choice  of  a  nesting-place  as  in  their  nature 
and  habits.  Some  suppose  their  nests  are 
near  the  gardens  or  vines  they  visit ;  but  that  is 
not  often  the  case.  A  few  magic  vibrations  of 
the  wings,  and  they  are  far  away  in  a  few 
seconds. 

The  last  nest  I  found  was  on  the  outer  end 
if  a  branch  of  silver  poplar  that  hung  over  a 
public  road ;  every  carriage-top  that  passed 
inder  it  was  within  a  few  feet  of  the  nest — 
he  last  place  in  the  world  where  I  should  have 
xpected  to  find  such  a  nest.  I  should  not 
tave  seen  it  except  that  I  was  accidentally 
ooking  up  into  the  tree,  and  I  saw,  protruding 
r  the  side  of  the  nest,  the  long,  fine  bill 
hat  happened  just  then  to  stir.  The  nest  might 
lave  been  passed  hundreds  of  times  and  been 
aken  for  a  small  knot  unless  thus  betrayed. 

These  birds  lay  but  two  eggs— tiny  white 
norsels.  The  young  birds  when  first  hatched 
re  curious  little  things,  and  feed  by  inserting 


their  bills  in  the  mouths  and  throats  of  their 
parents.  As  the  food  of  the  parents  is  com- 
posed of  nectar  and  fine  insects,  it  is  easily 
made  ready  for  the  little  ones'  tiny  stomachs. 

Every  year  one  or  more  pairs  live  near  my 
house,  there  being  many  flowers,  especially 
honeysuckles  and  the  trumpet-flower  variety, 
of  which  they  are  extremely  fond.  After  the 
young  ones  fly,  I  see  no  more  of  the  flashing 
ruby  breast  of  the  male,  but  I  see  a  bird  having 
a  brownish-red  breast.  I  take  him  to  be  the 
male  with  his  brilliancy  laid  aside  till  another 
spring ;  but  his  metallic  green  back  is  just  as 
bright  as  before. 

The  young  ones  came  every  few  minutes 
during  the  day  to  a  honeysuckle  trellis  to  sip 
and  rest ;  for  the  first  two  weeks  after  leaving 
their  nest  they  came  often,  frequently  hanging 
on  a  vertical  piece  of  dead  stem  with  as  much 
apparent  ease  as  on  a  horizontal  one,  but  never 
two  birds  at  one  time.  The  one  resting  was 
ever  on  the  alert  for  another  coming,  and  before 
it  got  very  close  the  resting  bird  would  perceive 
it,  fly  to  meet  it  as  if  attacking  it,  uttering  a  few 
light  chirps,  and  the  two  would  disappear  like  a 
flash,  so  quickly,  indeed,  that  the  eye  could 
hardly  follow  them ;  yet,  with  a  quick  eye,  one 
could  see  that  they  threaded  their  way  through 
the  foliage,  even  at  such  marvelous  speed  with 
unerring  precision.  They  would  be  gone  but 
a  few  seconds  when  one  would  return  to  rest, 
only  to  wait  for  another  game  of  tag.  Some- 
times one  of  the  birds  left  its  perch  to  catch 
a  small  insect  and  return,  like  a  fly-catcher. 
As  they  got  stronger  they  came  less  frequently 
to  rest. 

The  flight  of  the  humming-bird  requires  great 
muscular  exertion  to  sustain  the  rapid  vibrations 
of  its  wings,  and  keeping  so  much  on  the  wing 
with  such  rapid  flight,  perhaps  no  bird  is  more 
exercised.  Not  the  least  remarkable  fact  about 
the  structure  of  the  humming-bird  is  its  long, 
double-pointed  tongue,  as  long  as  its  bill ;  it 
can  be  put  out  very  far,  enabling  it  to  reach 
the  fine  insects  and  nectar  inside  the  flowers. 
It  is  while  so  engaged  that  the  humming  sound 
of  its  wings  is  best  heard ;  but  the  eye  must 
quickly  turn  toward  the  sound,  sometimes  only 
to  get  the  last  glimpse  of  our  little  hummer. 


TALL   yellow  lilies  wave  and  blow 

Along  the  water's  edge; 
Like  bits  of  sunset  light  they  glow, 

Caught  in  a  reedy  hedge. 

I  see  them  shine  where  one  by  one 

The  boats  unladen  lie, 
While  I  come  into  shore  alone 

For  little  spoil  have  I  ! 

The  little  stars  will  soon  peer  out, 

The  little  moon  mount  up 
And  every  lily  all  about 

Must  close  its  golden  cup. 

But  with  the  morn  they  will  awake 
To  shine  their  best  by  dav 

Although  the  yellow  sun  can'make 
A  brighter  light  than  they. 

And  with  the  morn  my  little  boat, 

The  river's  edge  beside, 
Must  go  to  fish,  while  great  shlps  float 

Out  seaward  with  the  tide. 


For  I  must  do  my 

And  never  idle  be 
Because  I  cannot  sail 


Ot  cms  nine  unu 


BIRD    HOMES 


PART  I 

Chapter  I 
INTRODUCTORY 

IT  has  been  suggested  that  a  work  on  Bird  Homes  might  do 
more  harm  than  good,  since  it  would  add  to  the  knowledge 
already  possessed  by  the  birds'  human  enemies.  I  think  this 
surely  a  mistake  ;  a  near  acquaintance  with  our  feathered  friends 
in  their  homes  will  surely  give  to  the  most  careless  such  an  in- 
terest in  the  birds  and  their  daily  lives,  such  a  new  sense  of  com- 
panionship with  them  and  affection  for  them,  that  it  can  but  work 
for  their  good.  Yet  it  may  be  as  well  to  say  emphatically  at  the 
outset  :  Make  your  object  the  study  of  birds  through  their  nests 
and  eggs.  Don't  add  a  new  terror  to  the  many  that  already  beset 
anxious  little  bird-mothers  by  disturbing  them  during  the  breed- 
ing season  or  taking  their  eggs  for  a  so-called  "collection."  If 
you  stop  at  this  you  will  lose  some  of  the  choicest  pleasures  that 
fall  to  the  lot  of  the  nature  lover. 

So  far  as  I  know,  this  side  of  the  birds'  life  has  been  com- 
paratively neglected.  There  are  plenty  of  scientific  works  on 
oology  and  nidification,  and  so  on,  but  hardly  anything  that 
deals  with  the  subject  from  what  might  be  called  the  "  human  " 
side.  If  this  book  helps  the  ordinary  unscientific  person  to  get 
some  closer  glimpse  of  the  birds  in  their  roles  as  heads  of  a  family  ; 
to  study  their  wonderfully  adapted  nests  and  beautiful  eggs  as 
manifestations  of  that  bird  nature  which  is  so  charmingly  varied 
and  so  endlessly  interesting— if  it  does  this  in  any  measure  at  all 
I  shall  be  more  than  satisfied. 


Introductory 

Every  one  agrees  that  the  study  of  birds  should  be  fostered 
and  developed.  The  first  thing  is  to  teach  people  to  see,  and 
very  few  of  those  who  have  not  gone  into  the  matter  sympa- 
thetically realise  how  little  of  the  visible  world  of  nature  they  do 
see.  In  particular  are  there  recompenses  for  the  patient  observer 
who  devotes  himself  to  the  beauties  of  bird-life.  There  are  but 
few,  especially  among  boys,  who  are  really  capable  of  doing  sys- 
tematic collecting  of  eggs,  and  unless  formed  with  the  utmost 
care  and  system,  a  collection  is  of  not  the  slightest  value.  On 
the  other  hand,  every  one  can  be  taught  to  see,  to  study  the 
birds  in  connection  with  their  nests,  eggs,  and  young. 

Birds  have  so  many  natural  enemies  that  our  first  impulse 
should  be  to  protect  them.  It  is  a  dark  reflection  on  man  that, 
with  all  his  much-vaunted  intelligence,  he  should  do  more  toward 
the  destruction  of  birds  than  all  other  causes  combined.  And  he 
certainly  is  one  of  their  most  relentless  foes. 

If  laws  were  made,  for  instance,  forbidding  the  sale  of  bird- 
skins  for  millinery  purposes,  what  a  boon  it  would  be  to  our 
feathered  friends !  Much  has  been  written  and  published  on  the 
subject  by  that  most  excellent  institution,  the  Audubon  Society  ; 
but  what  little  effect  has  it  produced.  Laws  have  been  passed, 
though  rather  late  in  the  day,  prohibiting  the  killing  of  egrets  in 
the  South  and  of  many  varieties  of  the  smaller  birds  in  special 
States  ;  but  these  laws  are  to  a  great  extent  disregarded,  and  there 
are  no  adequate  means  for  their  enforcement.  The  destruction 
of  birds'  nests -is  forbidden  ;  yet  there  are  endless  "collections" 
made  every  season.  How  many  boys — and  men  too — are  there 
in  every  village  who  take  every  year  large  numbers  of  eggs 
which  serve  no  purpose  !  Their  only  idea  is  to  get  "a  lot  of 
them,"  which  are  gathered  together  without  notes  or  observation, 
or  even  identification.  All  sparrow-like  nests  found  on  the 
ground  are  said  to  belong  to  the  "  ground  sparrow  "  or  "  grass 
sparrow,"  or  some  such  ambiguous  bird.  When  the  nest  is  found 
and  the  eggs  are  taken  the  entire  aim  of  this  "collector  "  seems 
to  be  satisfied  ;  the  idea  of  making  notes  never  even  enters  his 
head.  If  asked  where  some  particular  egg  was  taken,  he  replies 
vaguely  :  "  I  don't  remember  exactly,  but  I  think  it  was  in  such 
a  place,  or  perhaps  some  fellow  gave  it  to  me." 

Thus  it  is  that  eggs  are  destroyed  and  with  them  the  means 
of  studying  the  birds  during  the  most  interesting  period  of  their 

4 


WOOD   THRUSH    ON    NEST 


Introductory 

lives  ;  for  where  a  bird's  nest  is,  there  is  its  home  in  the  strictest 
sense  of  the  word.  It  is  true  that  most  birds  are  wanderers  ; 
they  go  south  shortly  after  the  young  are  fully  grown,  to  return 
when  the  frost  leaves  the  ground  and  the  necessary  supply  of  food 
can  be  obtained.  But  during  the  migration  the  bird  is  seldom 
resident  for  more  than  a  few  weeks  in  any  one  place  ;  he  is  rest- 
less and  only  awaits  the  time  when  he  may  get  back  to  his 
nesting  place  of  the  previous  year.  Here,  where  he  sings  his 
love-songs  and  sets  up  housekeeping,  is  surely  his  real  home  and 
habitation. 

In  reading  over  the  works  of  well-known  ornithologists  it  is 
surprising  to  see  how  very  little  has  been  written  about  birds 
during  the  breeding  season.  The  time  occupied  in  nest-building ; 
the  period  of  incubation  ;  the  appearance  and  habits  of  the  young 
at  different  ages  ;  how  long  they  remain  in  the  nest,  and  so  on — 
these  and  the  many  other  facts  which  give  each  species  and  each 
bird  family  definite  individuality,  though  they  are  of  the  utmost 
interest,  have  been  to  a  great  extent  ignored.  It  is  difficult  to 
realise  why  this  is.  Of  course  it  requires  great  patience  and 
plenty  of  time  to  get  accurate  data  of  this  sort  ;  but  there  are 
thousands  of  enthusiastic  nature  students,  and  particularly  bird 
students,  nowadays,  and  the  difficulties  only  make  it  all  the  more 
important  that  every  one  who  is  really  interested  should  endeavour 
to  add  all  possible  information  that  may  be  of  value.  And  right 
here  let  me  say  that  all  original  and  authentic  notes — and  only 
these — are  valuable. 

Eggs  of  different  birds  of  the  same  species,  and  indeed  of  the 
same  bird,  vary  greatly  both  in  colour,  markings,  and  size,  yet  it  is 
not  at  all  necessary  that  every  one  should  collect  a  large  series  to 
show  such  variations.  Such  collections  may  be  found  in  museums 
when  needed  for  comparison.  Therefore  I  should  say  :  Leave  the 
egg  where  it  belongs — in  the  nest — and  visit  it  frequently  (using 
all  due  caution  against  disturbing  the  owner  even  in  this),  making 
notes  of  anything  of  interest  you  may  happen  to  see.  You  will 
be  surprised  at  the  number  of  things  you  will  find  that  will  prove 
of  real  interest,  and  you  will  surely  be  glad  after  your  first  experi- 
ment of  this  sort  that  you  did  not  destroy  the  eggs,  and  with 
them  your  opportunity  of  gaining  such  an  insight  into  the  do- 
mestic life  of  Mrs.  Robin  Redbreast  or  Jenny  Wren. 

Last  summer,  while  walking  through  the  woods,  I  found  a 
5 


Introductory 

yellow-billed  cuckoo's  nest  containing  two  eggs,  which  showed 
that  incubation  was  far  advanced.  It  was  three  days  before  I  had 
another  chance  to  visit  the  nest.  During  this  interval  the  young 
had  hatched,  and  when  I  saw  them  they  were  little  naked  objects 
with  but  the  first  beginnings  of  pin  feathers  showing.  Unfortu- 
nately, I  did  not  know  their  exact  age  (as  you  can  see,  notes  should 
be  exact  down  to  days  and  hours),  but  as  I  visited  them  day  by 
day  I  noticed  how  the  feathers  grew.  Instead  of  breaking  through 
the  envelopes  gradually,  as  do  the  feathers  of  other  birds,  the  little 
cuckoo's  feathers  remained  sheathed  and  finely  pointed  until  the 
day  before  the  birds  left  the  nest.  Then  in  twenty-four  hours 
every  envelope  burst,  and  the  bird  was  completely  feathered, 
with  no  trace  of  the  sheathing  except  at  the  base  of  the  tail. 
Had  I  taken  the  eggs  I  should  not  have  been  able  to  note  this 
fact  (which  I  have  not  been  able  to  find  any  record  of  in  the 
books)  or  to  secure  the  amusing  photograph  which  is  reproduced 
further  on. 

While  I  deprecate  the  taking  of  eggs  as  being  in  most  cases 
entirely  unnecessary,  I  should  strongly  advise  both  boys  and  girls 
to  look  for  nests.  It  will  be  a  means  of  developing  a  love  of 
nature  in  one  of  its  most  attractive  forms,  and  it  will  stimulate 
the  powers  of  observation  and  add  to  the  knowledge  of  birds  in 
striking  degree. 

The  love  of  nature  in  any  form  is  an  acquisition  well  worth 
striving  for.  Besides  adding  enormously  to  one's  interest  in  a 
walk,  whether  on  the  high  road  or  along  the  woodland  paths,  it  is 
a  resource  which  would  do  a  great  deal  towards  banishing  that 
silly  phrase,  "  I  wish  I  had  something  to  do."  How  often  do  we 
hear  people  say  that,  even  when  living  in  the  country  where  wild 
life  in  its  thousands  of  different  phases  exists  all  around  them,  un- 
noticed by  all  except  the  very  few  who  are  devoting  themselves  to 
some  particular  study.  Unfortunately  the  power  of  observation 
is  lacking  in  most  of  us  who  have  not  been  trained  to  it — we  look 
without  seeing.  Mr.  Burroughs  says  that  "some  people  seem 
born  with  eyes  in  their  heads,  and  others  with  buttons  or  painted 
marbles,  and  no  amount  of  science  can  make  the  one  equal  to  the 
other  in  the  art  of  seeing  things."  But  even  those  who  by  ill- 
fortune  are  born  without  keen  eyes  can  by  constant  practice  cul- 
tivate the  faculty  of  observing  to  a  surprising  degree. 

That  so  little  is  known  about  the  common  birds  is  a  good  il- 
6 


Introductory 

lustration  of  this  lack  of  seeing  ;  even  birds  as  conspicuous  as  the 
Baltimore  oriole,  the  cardinal,  or  the  scarlet  tanager  are  as  re- 
mote as  birds  of  paradise  to  many  people  who  live  in  the  country. 
I  have  heard  men  and  women  ask  whether  these  birds,  which 
they  had  just  seen  as  mounted  specimens  in  some  museum,  were 
from  South  America  or  some  other  tropical  country.  They  were 
much  surprised  when  told  how  common  these  and  others  of 
equally  brilliant  plumage  are  within  a  few  miles  of  New  York  City. 

How  many  people  who  live  in  the  country  throughout  the 
summer  months,  or  even  country  folk  themselves,  have  ever  seen 
the  rose-breasted  grosbeak,  a  common  and  most  gayly  coloured 
summer  resident  ?  Or  the  yellow-breasted  chat,  or  the  Maryland 
yellowthroat,  or  the  indigo-bird  ?  Even  these  flashing  bits  of 
animated  colour  are  generally  unknown,  while  the  less  conspicu- 
ous birds,  if  seen  at  all,  are  called  "sparrows  "  or  "  small  birds." 

Now  that  the  public  schools  are  taking  up  nature  studies, 
we  have  good  reason  to  hope  that  people  will  learn  more  about 
the  birds.  I  think  any  woman  who  had  seen  a  mother-thrush  on 
the  nest,  with  her  anxious,  wild,  little  eyes  looking  out  in  fear 
of  the  intruder,  could  never  again  wear  a  stuffed  bird  as  a  hat  orna- 
ment, to  be  used  for  a  short  month  or  two  and  then  thrown 
away.  For  herein  lies,  perhaps,  the  chief  cause  of  the  partial 
extermination  of  our  birds,  both  those  that  are  sombre  in  colour 
(for  they  can  be  dyed  to  any  desired  shade)  and  those  that  are 
by  nature  of  brilliant  hues.  And  who  gains  by  this  cruel  sacrifice 
to  a  heartless  fashion  save  the  dealers  ? 

Keeping  native  song-birds  in  captivity  is  forbidden  in  some 
States,  the  idea  being,  of  course,  to  protect  the  birds.  But  this 
law  undoubtedly  does  harm  as  well  as  good,  for  many  people 
are  thus  prevented  from  becoming  intimately  attached  to  the 
common  birds.  Who,  having  once  owned  a  bluebird,  could 
injure  one  in  any  way  or  take  its  eggs  ?  And  the  same  applies 
to  almost  any  other  species.  Then,  again,  children  would 
become  fond  of  such  birds  as  they  knew,  and  the  cruelty  dis- 
played by  some  boys  would  be  a  thing  undreamed  of.  In  Eng- 
land, where  I  understand  the  song-birds  are  not  protected  by 
law,  they  are  more  abundant  than  anywhere  else.  What  boy 
would  kill  an  English  robin — the  robin  redbreast — that  he  hears 
about  in  the  earliest  nursery  rhymes  and  stories  ?  He  has  been 
brought  up  to  know  and  care  for  it,  and  it  is  therefore  to  be 

7 


Introductory 

reckoned  as  one  of  his  friends.     Here  the  robin,  were  it  not  pro- 
tected by  law,  would  be  shot  off  for  food  purposes,  and  I  think 
this  comes  largely  from  the  fact  that  the  bird,  like  all  the  other 
birds,  is  not  known  really  intimately,   and  therefore  not  cared 
for.     Only  last  summer  an  instance  attracted  my  attention  of  the 
utter  barbarism  that  exists  among  some  boys  in  this  connection. 
I  had  noticed  a  robin's  nest  containing  eggs,  and  being  anxious 
to  obtain  certain  notes  in  connection  with  the  young,  I  visited  it 
again  three  days  later.    What  I  saw  made  me  fairly  sick  at  heart. 
The  parent  bird  was  hanging  from  a  branch — dead.     Some  boy 
had  fastened  a  fish-hook  baited  with  a  worm  to  the  branch 
above  the  nest.     The  poor  bird  had  swallowed  the  hook  and 
had  hung  there  to  die  a  slow,   lingering  death  by  starvation. 
The  young  had  also  starved  to  death.     Such   cruelty  seems 
almost  incredible;  yet  it  was  done  by  a  boy  supposed  to  be  of 
average  intelligence,  who  was  being  educated  at  a  good  school. 
Keeping  pet  birds  is  a  much  discussed  question,  but  after  all 
my  experience  I  have  no  reason  to  believe  that  they  are  neces- 
sarily unhappy  in  captivity.    Some  of  my  birds  have  been  out  for 
a  fly  many  times,  but  they  always  seem  glad  to  return,  and  I  am 
sure  they  enjoy  themselves,  even  when   in  their  cages.     Of 
course  they  receive  every  care  and  are  allowed  a  good  deal  of 
freedom;  they  have  no  cares,  no  trouble  to  search  for  food  or 
shelter,  and  they  are  nearly  always  well,  and  to  all  appearances 
happy.     The  whole  question  is,  of  course,  one  that  each  person 
must  decide  for  himself,  but  unless  there  is  a  great  deal  of  cer- 
tainty in  one's  mind  it  is  surely  better  to  give  the  birds  the 
benefit  of  the  doubt— and  their  freedom.     One  aspect  of  the  case 
has  been  put  acutely  by  a  poet  who  loved  birds  and  sympathised 
with  them  very  fully.     He  says  of  his  mocking-bird  : 

"  We  have  sometimes  discussed  the  question:  Is  it  better  on 
the  whole  that  Bob  should  have  lived  in  a  cage  than  in  the  wild 
wood  ?  There  are  conflicting  opinions  about  it:  but  one  of  us  is 
clear  that  it  is.  He  argues  that  although  there  are  many  songs 
which  are  never  heard,  as  there  are  many  eggs  which  never 
hatch,  yet  the  general  end  of  a  song  is  to  be  heard,  as  that  of  an 
egg  is  to  be  hatched.  He  further  argues  that  Bob's  life  in  his 
cage  has  been  one  long  blessing  to  several  people  who  stood  in 
need  of  him:  whereas  in  the  woods,  leaving  aside  the  probability 
of  hawks  and  bad  boys,  he  would  not  have  been  likely  to  gain 


MALE    ROSE-BREASTED    GROSBEAK,    ONE   YEAR    OLD 


Introductory 

one  appreciative  listener  for  a  single  half-hour  out  of  each  year," 
and  so  on. 

But  I  must  remind  all  readers  that  any  one  who  does  keep 
pets  incurs  responsibilities  along  with  the  pleasure  they  bring. 
To  deprive  any  wild  animal  of  its  liberty  and  then  neglect  it  is 
sheer  barbarity. 

Having  birds  in  this  way  affords  almost  the  only  means  of 
studying  the  remarkable  individuality  possessed  by  different 
members  of  the  same  species.  That  each  bird  has  a  character 
peculiar  to  itself  may  be  doubted  by  some,  but  I  have  never  seen 
two  individuals  showing  the  same  peculiarities.  Two  rose- 
breasted  grosbeaks  that  have  been  reared  together  from  the  same 
nest,  and  are  now  eighteen  months  old,  are  different  in  almost 
every  way.  One  is  intensely  jealous  and  objects  to  attention  being 
paid  to  any  other  bird;  the  other  seems  not  to  know  what 
jealousy  means.  One  wants  to  sleep  at  night;  the  other  keeps 
up  a  perpetual  jumping  from  perch  to  perch  until  all  hours. 
The  female  (who  has  most  of  the  bad  traits)  never  lets  her  mate 
have  any  little  tid-bit  in  the  way  of  food;  no  matter  how  much 
she  has,  she  immediately  seizes  whatever  is  given  to  her  better- 
natured  companion.  So  it  is  with  all  the  other  birds;  one  will 
be  naturally  wild  and  timid;  another  knows  no  fear;  one,  though 
tame,  cannot  endure  being  touched;  another,  like  a  bluebird  I 
have,  wants  to  be  handled  most  of  the  time,  and  is  quite  content 
if  allowed  to  sit  quietly  (and  go  to  sleep)  inside  a  partly  closed 
hand. 

The  method  of  eating  adopted  by  each  of  the  birds  is  quite 
individual.  The  wood  thrush  makes  rapid  and  regular  dips  into 
the  food-cup,  taking  only  a  small  mouthful  each  time,  but  repeat- 
ing the  operation  until  its  hunger  is  satisfied  ;  feeding  takes  place 
at  rather  long  intervals.  The  yellow-breasted  chat  feeds  some- 
what after  the  same  manner,  but  is  not  so  quick  or  so  dainty  in 
its  movements,  and  eats  more  frequently.  The  mocking-bird  eats 
often  and  much,  but  does  not  draw  his  beak  away  from  the  cup 
between  each  mouthful.  The  bluebird  eats  fairly  frequently  and 
dips  his  beak  into  the  food  with  a  sharp  jerk,  pausing  a  second  or 
two  between  each  mouthful,  and  making  a  snap  with  his  beak 
every  time  he  takes  the  food.  If  given  a  live  grasshopper,  he 
carefully  kills  it,  then  shakes  off  its  legs  and  swallows  the  entire 
body,  afterwards  gathering  up  the  legs.  The  Baltimore  oriole 


Introductory 

seems  to  chew  his  food,  and  eats  very  frequently  ;  if  given  any- 
thing, either  eatable  or  otherwise,  he  holds  it,  hawk-fashion,  with 
his  feet  (or  foot)  and  quickly  picks  it  to  pieces,  usually  prying  it 
apart  with  his  sharply  pointed  beak.  The  rose-breasted  grosbeaks 
eat  nearly  all  the  time,  even  late  at  night,  and  I  fancy  this  accounts 
for  their  tendency  to  become  very  fat  when  in  captivity.  So  it 
may  be  seen  that  each  bird  is  a  study  by  itself. 

Undoubtedly  this  same  individuality  exists  in  birds  when  in 
their  wild  state,  perhaps  even  to  a  greater  degree,  but  it  is  more 
difficult  to  discover.  Some  nests  show  individual  peculiarities, 
but  whether  the  same  bird  builds  the  same  kind  of  nest  each  year 
is,  of  course,  unknown. 

The  object  of  this  book,  I  may  repeat,  is  to  stimulate  the  love 
of  birds  ;  and  though  descriptions  of  nests  and  eggs  are  given,  as 
well  as  instructions  for  egg-collecting,  it  must  be  borne  in  mind 
that  it  is  generally  neither  necessary  nor  advisable  that  collections 
of  eggs  should  be  made.  Remember  that,  as  Mr.  Frank  Chapman 
says,  the  two  points  of  interest  in  a  bird's  egg  are  "  what  the  egg 
is  in  and  what  is  in  the  egg."  Much  more  knowledge  may  be 
gained  by  observing  the  birds  themselves  throughout  the  breeding 
season  than  by  taking  the  eggs.  Leave  egg-collecting  to  those 
who  are  able,  through  scientific  study,  to  make  use  of  such  col- 
lections and  devote  your  leisure  hours  to  the  far  more  interesting 
process  of  collecting  knowledge  which  will  lend  increased  interest 
to  your  every-day  existence  and  give  you  new  insight  into  the 
fascinating  world  of  bird-life. 


Chapter  II 

BIRDS'  NESTS  AND  EGGS 

A  CAREFUL  examination  of  a  bird's  nest  will  convince  any  one 
that  it  is  a  work  of  art.  One  cannot  help  wondering  at  the  in- 
genuity displayed  by  its  architect.  How  carefully  a  bird  adapts 
itself  to  environment  is  well  illustrated  by  endless  examples  :  the 
red-winged  blackbirds  (whose  nests  are  usually  built  among 
reeds,  flags,  or  bushes)  make  their  nests  very  much  deeper  when 
the  place  selected  is  subject  to  strong  winds  than  in  more  shel- 
tered spots  ;  and  then,  as  a  further  safeguard,  the  mouth  of  the 
nest  contracts  so  that  the  eggs  will  not  fall  out  when  the  flags  are 
swayed  by  the  wind.  These  clever  birds  have  even  been  known 
to  place  their  eggs  in  a  deserted  woodpecker's  nest  in  places  where 
the  fish  crows  were  numerous — for  the  fish  crow  is  worse  even 
than  the  jay  as  an  egg  and  fledgling  thief.  In  this  way  the  red- 
wings managed  to  elude  their  persecutors  and  saved  their  eggs 
and  young  from  destruction. 

Some  birds  readily  avail  themselves  of  new  and  favourable 
conditions.  The  phoebe  formerly  built  its  nest  exclusively  on 
rocks,  but  now  that  houses  and  bridges  are  to  be  found  through- 
out the  country,  this  bird  has  to  a  great  extent  changed  its  former 
custom,  and  it  now  builds  nests  on  almost  any  sort  of  structure 
erected  by  man.  This  also  applies  to  the  barn  swallow,  while  the 
chimney  swift  has  taken  possession  of  our  chimneys,  and  almost 
forsaken  the  hollow  tree-trunks,  in  which,  but  a  few  years  ago, 
they  built  in  large  colonies. 

How  rapidly  birds  are  changing  their  habits  is  not  known, 
but  it  is  evident  from  the  few  examples  we  have  about  us  that  a 
change  is  progressing,  in  some  cases  very  noticeably. 

Of  course  a  bird's  main  idea  when  depositing  its  eggs  is  that 
they  shall  be  safe  from  enemies  of  all  kinds  and  from  unfavourable 
weather  conditions.  With  these  objects  in  view  it  is  interesting  to 


Birds'  Nests  and  Eggs 

note  the  different  methods  employed.  The  whippoorwill  builds 
no  nest,  but  lays  its  eggs  in  a  slight  depression  among  the  dead 
leaves.  When  the  parent  bird  is  sitting,  her  colour,  which  matches 
the  leaves  and  dead  wood,  saves  her  from  observation.  The  eggs 
themselves  are  much  like  either  stones  or  the  under  sides  of  leaves, 
so  they  are  difficult  to  find  even  when  exposed.  But  if  they  are 
discovered,  the  parent  bird  carries  them  away  to  a  new  hiding 
place.  The  quail  and  many  other  birds,  such  as  the  meadow-lark 
and  some  of  the  sparrows,  often  arch  their  homes  over  with  either 
the  growing  vegetation  surrounding  the  nest,  or  with  dry  material 
brought  for  the  purpose,  and  in  some  cases  they  build  covered 
paths  or  entrances.  The  woodpeckers  hide  their  eggs  in  natural 
holes  in  trees,  or  in  holes  hollowed  out  after  much  tedious  labour 
by  the  birds  themselves  ;  here  the  eggs  are  fairly  safe  ;  squirrels, 
snakes,  and  human  beings  are  about  the  only  enemies  to  be  feared. 
The  crested  flycatcher  often  makes  use  of  a  snake-skin  in  the 
construction  of  his  nest,  which  occupies  a  hole  in  a  tree.  It  is 
only  reasonable  to  suppose  that  there  is  some  object  for  his  pref- 
erence for  this  strange  and  apparently  useless  material.  It  may 
be  that  it  frightens  away  would-be  thieves,  squirrels,  jays,  or 
crows  (for  the  opening  to  the  nest  is  often  large  enough  to  allow  a 
crow  to  enter  without  difficulty)  ;  here  is  a  case  where  authentic 
observations  might  tell  us  much  of  the  bird's  life-history. 

The  ruby-throated  humming-bird  saddles  his  tiny  nest  usu- 
ally on  a  high  branch,  and  covers  it  with  lichen  so  that  it  resembles 
an  excrescence  on  the  branch.  Why  the  long-billed  marsh  wren 
builds  so  many  "dummy"  nests,  most  of  which  are  usually  near 
the  real  nest,  is  not  known,  but  it  is  presumably  as  a  matter  of 
safety,  and  for  the  purpose  of  misleading  intruders,  just  as  a  parent 
bird  will  feign  a  broken  wing  to  lure  danger  from  the  young. 

The  Baltimore  oriole  hangs  his  well-built  nest,  a  masterpiece 
of  bird  architecture,  on  the  extreme  end  of  an  overhanging  branch 
where  nothing  but  a  winged  enemy  can  reach  it.  To  guard  against 
these  the  nest  is  made  so  that  it  looks  something  like  a  hornet's 
nest — with  which  the  jays,  crows,  or  hawks  would  not  care  to 
interfere.  Then,  again,  after  all  these  precautions,  the  comfort  as 
well  as  the  safety  of  the  young  is  thought  of  when  the  nest  is 
built,  the  lower  part  being  compactly  and  strongly  made,  while 
the  walls  are  loosely  woven  so  as  to  admit  of  free  circulation  of 
air.  The  eggs  of  the  belted  kingfisher  are  placed  in  a  hole  often 


Birds'  Nests  and  Eggs 

six  or  eight  feet  deep,  excavated  in  a  bank  by  the  birds  themselves 
after  as  much  as  two  weeks'  work.  One  possible  reason  for  the 
choice  of  such  a  place  is  the  fact  that  the  young,  which  are  fed  on 
fish,  regurgitate  large  pellets  of  scales  and  bones  and  such  indi- 
gestible matter  ;  were  these  dropped  beneath  a  nest  built  in  a  tree 
or  on  the  open  ground  it  would  betray  the  presence  of  the  home 
to  the  natural  enemies  of  the  bird.  Why  the  cowbird  declines  the 
responsibilities  of  maternity  has  never  been  satisfactorily  explained. 
It  is  certain,  however,  that  there  is  some  good  and  sufficient 
reason. 

The  European  cuckoo,  like  the  cowbird,  lays  her  eggs  in 
the  nests  of  other  birds,  those  of  the  smaller  birds  being  usually 
chosen.  A  certain  French  writer  gives  as  a  reason  the  fact  that 
the  cuckoo  cannot  lay  eggs  on  succeeding  days.  How  long  the 
interval  is  has  not  been  decided,  but  if  it  is  of  many  days'  duration 
that  would  be  an  ample  reason  for  the  bird's  not  building  a  nest 
for  itself,  since  the  eggs  might  be  stolen  were  they  left  unpro- 
tected until  the  full  complement  were  laid.  The  eggs  of  the  yel- 
low-billed cuckoo  are  said  to  be  deposited  at  irregular  intervals  of 
from  two  to  five  days,  and  are  occasionally  found  in  the  nests  of 
other  birds.  Whether  in  days  gone  by  they  placed  their  eggs  en- 
tirely in  the  care  of  other  birds  or  whether  they  will  do  so  in  the 
future  is  of  course  a  problem,  but  it  is  quite  possible  that  some 
such  change  is  taking  place.  There  are  birds  who,  having  laid 
their  eggs,  cover  them  up  and  allow  them  to  hatch  by  themselves, 
trusting  to  the  heat  generated  by  the  covering  chosen.  1  know 
of  none  of  our  eastern  birds  that  do  this,  yet  some  of  them  make 
use  of  vegetable  substance  that  has  heating  qualities. 

The  grebes,  for  instance,  use  decayed  and  damp  vegetable 
matter,  while  many  of  our  small  birds  place  in  their  nests  woolly 
stuffs  and  other  non-conducting  material,  probably  to  protect  the 
highly  sensitive  eggs  from  sudden  changes  of  temperature. 

The  shapes  of  eggs  show  in  many  instances  the  forethought 
of  nature.  Eggs  that  are  laid  on  bare  rocks  and  exposed  places 
where  little  or  no  nests  are  made,  are  generally  rounded  at  the 
larger  end  and  come  almost  to  a  point  at  the  other  extremity  ;  this 
makes  it  possible  for  them  to  be  turned  by  the  wind  without  roll- 
ing away  ;  whereas  the  ovate  or  elliptical  eggs  that  are  found  in 
well-protected  places,  such  as  holes  in  trees,  would  soon  be  blown 
off  by  a  strong  wind  in  such  exposed  situations. 

13 


Birds'  Nests  and  Eggs 

The  ways  of  birds  are  difficult  to  understand.  Why  should 
some  build  in  colonies,  and  others  singly  but  in  close  proximity, 
and  others  again  miles  away  from  their  kind  ?  The  passenger 
pigeon  gives  the  best  example  of  nest  colonies,  immense  numbers 
breeding  in  a  very  limited  area.  Prof.  H.  B.  Rooney  speaks  of 
a  nesting  area  forty  miles  long  and  from  three  to  ten  miles  wide, 
where,  in  1878,  a  million  and  a  half  of  the  pigeons  were  killed  for 
food  purposes,  while  if  those  that  were  taken  alive  and  the  dead 
nestlings  were  included,  the  number  would  reach  the  enormous 
total  of  a  thousand  millions.  This  is  thought  to  be  somewhat  ex- 
aggerated, but  shows  what  an  immense  number  of  birds  must 
have  been  breeding  in  this  limited  space.  Some  of  our  small  birds 
nest  in  colonies  ;  among  them  the  red-winged  blackbird  and  some 
of  the  swallows  afford  the  most  noticeable  examples.  The  bobo- 
link and  marsh  wrens  also  live  in  scattered  communities  during 
the  breeding  season.  Most  of  the  larger  hawks  select  a  desirable 
copse  or  fairly  large  tract  of  woodland  as  a  common  home,  and  it 
is  seldom  that  another  nest  of  the  same  species  is  found  within 
that  area.  In  Florida,  where  each  cypress  swamp  is  usually  clearly 
defined,  it  is  seldom,  except  in  the  large  swamps,  that  one  finds 
in  each  more  than  one  nest  of  the  Florida  red-shouldered  hawk — 
a  species  very  abundant  throughout  the  more  southern  parts  of 
the  State. 

Some  birds  return  regularly  year  after  year  to  the  same  nest- 
ing site,  even  after  their  nests  have  been  robbed  several  times.  I 
have  known  a  crested  flycatcher  to  build  in  the  same  hole  for 
three  years  in  succession  though  each  set  of  eggs  was  taken. 
Pho3bes  return  with  great  regularity  to  the  same  bridge,  building, 
or  rock,  where  they  make  one  or  two  nests  each  season.  Some 
of  the  owls  also  use  the  same  hole  for  many  years,  and  hawks 
and  crows  rebuild  their  old  nests,  so  that  each  year  the  nest  be- 
comes larger  as  layer  after  layer  is  added. 

Most,  if  not  all,  birds  are  governed  in  their  habits  by  regular 
rules — from  which,  however,  they  occasionally  depart,  just  as 
human  beings  depart  from  the  rules  which  seem  most  generally 
applicable. 

The  Wilson's  thrush,  whose  nest  is  commonly  on  or  near  the 
ground,  has  been  known  to  build  in  a  hole  in  a  tree.  Bob-whites' 
nests  containing  thirty-seven  eggs  have  been  reported — though 
these  were,  of  course,  not  all  laid  by  one  hen.  The  eggs  were 


Birds'  Nests  and  Eggs 

said  to  be  arranged  in  tiers,  with  the  smaller  ends  pointing  towards 
the  centre.  It  is  curious  to  note  that  if  the  female  bob-white  is 
killed  after  the  eggs  are  laid,  the  male  bird  takes  upon  himself  the 
entire  duty  of  incubating.  This  may  not  be  an  invariable  rule,  but 
a  number  of  instances  have  been  reported  by  reliable  observers. 
Robins  will  sometimes  build  their  nests  in  buildings  or  bridges 
with  no  vegetation  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  nest,  and 
mocking-birds  have  chosen  fence  rails  and  other  such  queer  places 
for  their  building  sites. 

In  parts  of  the  old  world  and  in  South  America  will  be  found 
birds  that  build  extraordinary  nests  and  have  curious  habits.  The 
male  hornbills  have  a  remarkable  custom  of  incarcerating  the  female 
in  a  hole  in  a  tree  during  the  period  of  incubation,  by  sealing  up 
the  entrance  with  mud,  leaving  a  small  opening  through  which 
she  is  supplied  with  food.  Should  the  male  be  killed  it  is  a  ques- 
tion whether  or  not  the  female  could  free  herself.  This  habit  is 
doubtless  a  method  of  protection. 

The  nest  of  the  tailor-bird  is  a  good  example  of  the  skill  dis- 
played by  birds  in  building  and  concealing  their  homes.  They 
sew  the  edges  of  a  large  growing  leaf  round  the  nest,  so  that  it  is 
absolutely  hidden  from  view.  The  bower-birds  use  queer  ma- 
terials, such  as  bones,  pieces  of  metal,  shells,  etc.,  but  perhaps  the 
greatest  curiosity  supplied  by  birds  is  the  nest  of  the  esculent 
swift,  known  commonly  as  the  edible  bird's-nest,  so  much  appre- 
ciated by  the  Chinese  as  a  table  luxury. 

These  are  but  a  few  examples  of  the  endless  variety  to  be 
found  in  bird  architecture.  It  is  a  subject  a  full  treatment  of  which 
would  fill  many  volumes,  and  it  is  a  study  offering  unusual  attrac- 
tions to  all  who  want  to  do  "original  work"  in  nature  subjects. 


Chapter  III 

EGG-COLLECTING    AND    ITS    OBJECT 

A  COLLECTION  of  eggs,  to  be  of  any  real  value,  must  be  formed 
according  to  some  prearranged  method  and  for  some  definite  pur- 
pose—not haphazard,  with  merely  the  idea  of  accumulating  a  great 
quantity  of  eggs.  The  amateur  collector  is  generally  without  any 
notes,  such  as  where  found  or  the  number  in  nest ;  in  fact,  he  is 
apt  to  have  nothing  but  somewhat  uncertain  names  of  eggs  ob- 
tained by  exchange  or  purchased  from  some  dealer — secured  in 
any  way  so  that  the  number  be  great.  What,  may  I  ask,  has  ever 
been  gained  from  such  a  collection  ?  And  after  the  craze  has 
lasted  a  year  or  two,  the  whole  thing  is  put  aside  and  forgotten, 
to  be  destroyed  by  neglect. 

The  object  of  a  collection  is  to  show  not  only  the  individual 
egg,  but  how  conditions  affect  eggs  of  a  given  species  in  different 
parts  of  the  country.  Thus  it  is  of  the  utmost  importance  that  it 
should  be  known  where  the  eggs  were  procured  ;  the  date  should 
be  given,  so  that  it  may  be  possible  to  find  out  whether  in  differ- 
ent places  the  nesting  season  varies,  and,  if  so,  how  great  is  the 
variation.  The  catalogue  should  contain  exact  information  on  these 
points,  together  with  notes  relating  to  the  nest ;  whether  placed 
on  the  ground,  or  in  bushes  or  trees,  etc. 

All  notes  should  be  made  on  the  spot  and  not  from  memory. 
A  small  pocketbook  should  be  carried  for  that  purpose,  and  these 
notes  ought  finally  to  be  arranged  in  a  larger  book,  either  in  chrono- 
logical order  or  under  the  name  of  each  bird  ;  the  latter  is  proba- 
bly the  better  way  as  it  is  easier  to  refer  to  and  needs  no  index. 
Be  careful  that  all  information  is  accurate.  Anything  taken  from 
hearsay  should  be  marked  as  such.  In  most  cases  it  is  better  to 
have  nothing  but  notes  made  from  personal  observation. 

As  I  have  said  before,  birds,  though  governed  by  certain  rules, 
do  occasionally  change  or  modify  their  habits  ;  so  that  notes  on 

16 


Egg-Collecting  and  Its  Object 

the  habits  of  a  given  species  should  specify  whether  or  not  they 
were  taken  from  an  individual  bird  or  from  numerous  individuals 
of  that  species. 

Among  the  numerous  points  to  be  noticed  may  be  mentioned 
the  following  :  When  birds  are  seen  pairing  ;  when  nests  are 
commenced  ;  how  long  building  ;  whether  built  by  one  or  both 
birds  ;  materials  used  in  the  construction,  from  where  gathered  ; 
where  the  nest  is  placed  ;  if  on  the  ground,  whether  on  a  sod  or 
tussock,  in  a  tuft  of  grass  or  in  a  depression,  in  damp  or  dry  places, 
in  open  country,  in  woods  or  in  thickets  ;  if  in  a  bush,  what  kind 
of  bush  ;  the  height  from  the  ground  ;  whether  in  a  crotch,  sad- 
dled on  a  branch  or  pendent  ;  the  size  of  nests  ;  when  the  eggs 
are  laid  ;  interval  between  laying  ;  period  of  incubation  ;  whether 
both  birds  or  only  the  female  takes  part  in  that  duty  ;  appearance 
of  young  when  hatched,  and  at  different  ages  ;  at  what  age  they 
leave  the  nest  ;  which  of  the  parent  birds  provides  the  food,  or 
whether  both  do  ;  of  what  does  the  food  consist ;  what  becomes 
of  the  young  when  they  leave  the  nest ;  and  so  on  with  the  num- 
berless points  which  go  to  differentiate  one  bird  from  another. 

The  period  of  incubation  varies  of  course  with  different  birds  ; 
for  instance,  with  the  white-eyed  vireo  it  is  about  seven  days  ;  the 
indigo-bird  takes  ten  days,  the  wood  thrush  twelve,  and  the  ruffed 
grouse  eighteen.  The  time  should  be  taken  from  the  day  the  bird 
actually  commences  sitting  and  not  necessarily  from  the  day  on 
which  the  last  egg  is  laid.  Eggs  are  usually  laid  during  the  morn- 
ing, between  the  hours  of  nine  and  eleven,  but  the  bird  does  not 
always  begin  to  sit  the  same  day  that  the  last  egg  is  laid.  Some 
birds  commence  sitting  before  laying  the  full  complement  of  eggs  ; 
in  these  cases  the  young  are  hatched  at  intervals. 

The  age  at  which  young  birds  leave  their  nests  is  not  de- 
pendent on  the  si%e  of  the  bird.  The  gallinaceous  species,  such 
as  the  grouse,  quail,  turkey,  etc.,  being  well  developed  when 
hatched,  desert  the  nest  within  a  few  hours  after  leaving  the  egg  ; 
the  young  wood  thrushes  keep  to  the  nest  for  ten  days,  by  which 
time  they  are  pretty  well  feathered,  the  tail  being  rather  more  than 
one  inch  in  length  ;  the  white-eyed  vireo  leaves  when  seven  days 
old  ;  while  the  owls  stay  in  their  nest  for  several  weeks. 

A  few  birds  build  their  nests  indiscriminately  on  the  ground 
or  in  bushes.  In  some  localities  certain  birds  almost  invariably 
choose  the  ground,  while  in  some  other  place,  where  conditions 
2  17 


Egg-Collecting  and  Its  Object 

do  not  appear  to  be  in  any  way  different,  the  same  bird  selects 
bushes.  Notes  of  this  kind  are  of  interest  and  should  be  worth 
the  trouble  of  systematic  investigation. 

Certain  birds,  such  as  the  prairie  horned  lark,  build  several 
nests  during  the  season,  the  first  nest  being  constructed  in  a  much 
more  substantial  manner  than  the  second  or  third.  This  is  prob- 
ably owing  to  the  change  in  the  weather  conditions.  Early  in  the 
season  the  ground  is  damp  from  the  frequent  rains,  while  later  on 
the  ground  becomes  dryer  and  there  is  more  protection  from  the 
weeds  and  grasses  which  surround  the  nest.  Such  observations 
as  these  soon  lead  one  to  realise  that  much  more  interesting  in- 
formation may  be  gathered  by  studying  carefully,  systematically, 
and  intelligently  the  habits  of  the  birds,  together  with  the  peculiari- 
ties of  their  nests  and  eggs,  than  by  making  collections  of  the 
eggs  themselves. 

In  order  to  get  a  collection  of  eggs  it  is  by  no  means  always 
necessary  to  destroy  the  nest,  or  even  to  cause  the  birds  to  aban- 
don it ;  that  is,  of  course,  unless  you  wish  to  have  complete  sets  of 
eggs,  and  this  may  fairly  be  said  seldom  to  be  essential  for  the 
amateur  or  general  student. 

If  you  are  fortunate  enough  to  find  a  nest  before  the  eggs  are 
laid,  watch  for  the  first  one.  This  should  not  be  touched,  but  the 
second  may  be  taken  and  sometimes  a  third  and  fourth  ;  then 
leave  the  nest  alone,  and  in  most  cases  the  bird  will  lay  the  com- 
plete complement. 

Care  should  be  taken  not  to  disturb  the  nest  or  frighten  the 
birds.  In  this  way  I  have  seen  as  many  as  six  eggs  taken  from  a 
single  nest,  and  four  more  were  afterwards  laid  and  hatched. 

Some  birds  are  exceedingly  shy  and  will  desert  their  nests 
upon  small  provocation,  especially  if  they  are  disturbed  while 
building.  Others,  however,  such  as  the  golden-winged  wood- 
pecker and  crested  flycatcher,  are  difficult  to  drive  away. 

When  eggs  vary  in  size,  shape,  or  colour,  as  those  of  most  of 
the  sparrows,  the  bobolink,  and  many  others,  it  is  an  advantage 
to  procure  a  fairly  large  number  or  series  of  sets,  showing  as 
many  of  the  differences  as  possible  ;  this  adds  greatly  to  the  interest 
of  a  collection,  particularly  when  the  difference  correlates  with 
locality  and  varied  conditions.  A  well-arranged  collection  of  bird's 
nests,  even  without  the  eggs,  is  both  picturesque  and  valuable. 
They  should  as  far  as  possible  be  left  as  the  bird  had  placed  them  ; 

18 


Egg-Collecting-  and  Its  Object 

if  built  in  a  bush  or  on  a  branch,  enough  of  the  support  ought  to 
remain  with  the  nest  to  show  by  what  method  it  was  secured. 
With  ground  nests  that  are  placed  in  tufts  of  grass,  the  tuft  should 
be  removed  with  the  nest ;  in  the  case  of  woodcock,  ruffed  grouse, 
or  any  bird  that  forms  its  nest  roughly  of  leaves,  a  wire  hoop 
covered  loosely  with  muslin  or  wire  gauze  will  answer  the  pur- 
pose ;  this  can  be  slipped  under  the  nest  so  that  it  need  not  be 
disturbed. 

When  the  eggs  are  laid  in  a  hole  in  a  tree  it  is  not  always 
feasible  to  cut  down  the  tree  or  even  the  branch.  Sometimes  the 
branch  can  be  cut  just  below  the  nest  (taking  care  not  to  cut 
through  the  lower  part  of  the  nest  itself),  and  then  an  opening  can 
be  made  in  order  to  show  the  eggs  and  whatever  there  may  be 
in  the  way  of  a  nest,  leaving  the  original  hole  through  which  the 
bird  had  entered.  If  the  nest  is  taken  before  the  eggs  are  laid,  or 
even  when  the  bird  has  commenced  sitting,  during  the  early  part 
of  the  season,  not  much  harm  is  done,  as  the  bird  immediately 
begins  building  again.  As  the  season  advances  it  is  better  that 
the  nest  should  be  left  until  after  the  departure  of  the  young,  al- 
though then  it  is  not  in  such  good  condition  as  before  being  used 
— particularly  if  it  happens  to  be  the  nest  of  the  cuckoo,  which 
leaves  its  nest  in  a  most  filthy  condition. 

The  egg-collector's  outfit  comprises  a  few  drills  of  various 
sizes,  a  blow-pipe  of  either  glass  or  metal  (for  home  work  those 
made  of  glass  are  preferable,  as  they  are  easily  cleaned,  but  for  the 
field  metal  is,  of  course,  more  serviceable),  forceps  of  various  sizes, 
scissors,  and  an  embryo-hook. 

When  the  eggs  are  fresh  they  are  easily  blown,  and  the  hole 
should  be  very  small ;  the  blow-pipe  may  be  used  by  holding  it 
near  the  hole  and  forcing  air  into  the  egg,  thus  emptying  it  of  the 
contents.  By  this  method  the  hole  need  not  be  large  if  the  egg  is 
fresh  ;  another  way  is  to  insert  the  end  of  the  blow-pipe,  when 
the  contents  may  be  quickly  blown  out. 

The  usual  plan  adopted  by  boys  is  to  make  two  holes,  one 
very  small  and  the  other  varying  in  size  according  to  the  condi- 
tion of  the  egg  ;  this  has  the  disadvantage  of  making  two  holes, 
and  when  the  egg  isn't  quite  fresh,  it  takes  a  boy's  stomach  to 
stand  it. 

When  the  embryo  has  formed  it  is  generally  necessary  to  use 
the  embryo-hook  and  to  make  a  large  hole.  Never  try  to  take 

'9 


Egg-Collecting  and  Its  Object 

out  the  contents  of  an  egg  through  a  hole  of  insufficient  size.  In 
large  eggs,  the  scissors  or  forceps  come  into  use.  If  the  embryo 
is  very  large  soak  the  egg  in  water  for  a  day  or  so. 

It  is  of  the  utmost  importance  that  the  egg  should  be  thor- 
oughly washed,  both  inside  and  out,  with  either  cold  or  tepid  water, 
which  may  contain  some  weak  antiseptic  solution,  but  on  no  ac- 
count must  very  hot  water  be  used.  The  water  should  be  taken 
up  with  the  blow-pipe  and  discharged  into  the  egg,  repeating  this 
operation  several  times.  Finally  dry  thoroughly,  letting  it  drain, 
hole  downwards,  on  cornmeal,  sawdust,  blotting-paper,  or  sand 
if  nothing  else  is  obtainable. 

In  the  case  of  white  eggs  their  beauty  is  much  enhanced  by 
inserting  a  little  pink  cotton-wool ;  this  makes  the  specimen  ap- 
pear more  as  though  the  yolk  were  inside. 

For  field  work  have  a  few  small  metal  boxes  (such  as  those 
used  for  holding  tobacco)  filled  with  cotton  wadding  cut  into 
squares,  so  that  each  egg  may  be  wrapped  up  separately.  Put  on 
each  a  number,  written  lightly  in  pencil,  referring  to  your  field 
notes  on  that  egg  ;  this  saves  a  great  deal  of  confusion,  especially 
when  many  eggs  are  found  in  a  day.  The  A.  O.  U.*  check  list 
number  should  be  written  on  every  egg  to  prevent  the  occurrence 
of  any  possible  mistake. 

If  the  collection  consists  of  nests  with  the  eggs  a  cabinet 
with  glass  top  will  be  needed,  so  that  the  nests  may  be  seen,  while 
at  the  same  time  the  air  and  dust  may  be  excluded  as  much  as 
possible  ;  camphor  or  naphthaline  must  be  kept  in  the  cabinet. 
Strong  sunlight  ought  not  to  be  allowed  to  fall  on  the  eggs,  for  it 
causes  them  to  fade,  so  it  is  advisable  to  keep  the  cabinet  covered 
with  some  opaque  material.  Each  nest  should  be  marked  either 
with  a  number  referring  to  the  catalogue,  or  with  that  and  the 
name  of  the  nest.  If  the  collection  contains  only  eggs,  they  should 
be  kept  in  a  cabinet  with  well-made  drawers,  each  drawer  di- 
vided off  with  partitions  large  enough  to  contain  a  complete  set. 
The  eggs  may  be  laid  on  cotton,  sawdust,  sand,  or  finely  grated 
cork,  the  last  being  perhaps  the  most  suitable. 

*  American  Ornithologists'  Union. 


Chapter   IV 

PHOTOGRAPHING  NESTS  AND  YOUNG  BIRDS 

IN  making  notes  on  young  birds  the  camera  will  be  found  to 
be  most  useful,  as  it  shows  exactly  the  growth  of  feathers  and 
other  points  of  interest ;  but  here  again  it  is  necessary  to  be  par- 
ticular as  to  the  age  of  the  bird.  Guesswork  will  not  do,  as  a 
single  day  often  makes  a  great  difference  in  the  appearance  of 
young  birds.  It  is  extraordinary  with  what  rapidity  they  grow. 

In  order  to  secure  good  photographs  great  patience  is  neces- 
sary, especially  so  in  the  case  of  young  robins  and  others  of  the 
thrush  family,  for  they  are  very  shy  even  before  they  can  fly. 

Any  good  long-focus  camera  with  the  regular  lens  will  do, 
but  of  course  a  very  rapid  lens  will  give  better  results.  The  lens 
that  has  given  me  the  greatest  satisfaction,  both  on  account  of  its 
rapidity  and  depth  of  focus,  is  the  Goerz,  series  III. 

My  method  of  photographing  the  bird  before  it  can  stand  is 
to  place  it  on  a  piece  of  smooth  white  or  light-gray  paper  laid  on 
a  flat  surface  and  raised  at  the  farther  side  so  as  to  form  a  per- 
fectly smooth  blank  background  with  no  lines  or  creases  ;  this 
may  be  placed  in  the  sunlight  or  shadow,  according  to  the  speed 
of  the  lens. 

A  very  quick  shutter  is  essential,  owing  to  the  rapid  breath- 
ing of  the  bird  when  young  and  to  its  restlessness  when  able  to 
perch  (in  a  life-sized  photograph  the  slightest  movement  shows 
unless  the  shutter  works  with  unusual  rapidity).  Once  the  young- 
sters can  fly,  it  is  necessary  to  make  some  sort  of  enclosure  ;  this 
may  be  arranged  temporarily  by  hanging  some  white  cheesecloth 
in  the  sunlight,  with  a  piece  of  mosquito  netting  at  the  top  so  as 
to  allow  sufficient  light  inside.  Sunlight  may  be  used  to  advan- 
tage in  some  instances  to  give  striking  effects  of  light  and  shade. 
(When  sunlight  is  used,  a  developer  rather  weak  in  pyro  will  be 
found  to  give  the  best  results.) 


Photographing  Nests  and  Young  Birds 

The  dead  branch  of  a  tree  makes  a  natural  and  effective  perch 
for  the  bird  to  stand  on  ;  it  should  be  carefully  selected,  with  no 
twigs  that  would  be  much  out  of  focus.  Then  focus  your  camera 
on  some  particular  point ;  mark  this  lightly  with  a  penknife  and 
take  the  photograph  when  the  bird  stands  on  the  marked  place. 
When  several  birds  are  to  be  photographed  together,  they  must 
be  arranged  so  that  each  one  shows  in  a  different  position  from 
his  companions.  You  may  say  that  this  sounds  easy,  but  is  most 
difficult  to  accomplish  ;  here  is  the  time  for  the  much-needed  pa- 
tience already  mentioned. 

Young  birds  may  be  photographed  while  in  the  nest,  but  this 
is  not  often  satisfactory,  since  only  the  heads  show.  Especially  in 
the  case  of  the  smaller  birds  is  it  difficult  to  get  all  parts  in  focus. 
Moreover,  the  location  of  the  nest  is  generally  in  the  shade,  so  that 
to  get  good  results  a  time  exposure  is  desirable.  But  the  birds 
invariably  move  ;  so,  on  the  whole,  I  think  the  best  results  are  to 
be  obtained  without  anything  in  the  way  of  accessories.  This  has 
been  my  experience,  though  others  who  have  been  more  fortunate 
in  getting  good  effects  with  the  young  in  the  nests  think  that  is 
the  better  method. 

When  nests  containing  eggs  are  to  be  photographed  it  is 
better  to  choose  a  cloudy  day,  otherwise  a  screen  should  be  used 
in  order  to  soften  the  light,  or  the  markings  on  the  eggs  will 
scarcely  show  in  the  picture,  and  the  detail  of  the  nest  will  often 
be  lost  in  the  strong  light  and  shade.  The  screen  may  be  made 
of  cheesecloth  or  fine  muslin,  and  a  light,  portable  frame  for  it 
may  be  constructed  of  thin  bamboo,  arranged  so  as  to  fold  and  be 
carried  with  the  tripod. 

If  the  nest  is  photographed  in  bright  sunlight,  a  piece  of  white 
paper  or  cloth  may  be  used  with  advantage  as  a  reflector  in  order 
to  soften  the  shadows.  When  photographing  ground 
nests  the  ordinary  tripod  is  troublesome  and  difficult 
to  tilt  to  the  necessary  angle.  After  trying  various 
schemes,  I  am  now  using  a  device  which  works  satis- 
factorily, its  disadvantage  being  its  weight.  Three- 
ply  wood  should  be  used  in  making  this,  and  the 
metal  parts  may  be  taken  from  an  ordinary  tripod  top. 
The  bar  AB  is  cylindrical,  fa  inch  in  diameter  ;  to 
this  is  clamped  a  ball-and-socket  device,  allowing  the 
camera  to  tilt  forward  without  moving  the  legs  of 


YOUNG    RED-EYED    VIREOS,   READY   TO    LEAVE    NEST 


YOUNG   YELLOW-BILLED    CUCKOOS,  TWENTY-FOUR    HOURS    BEFORE    LEAVING    NEST 
Showing  how  late  the  feathers  remain  sheathed 


Photographing  Nests  and  Young  Birds 

the  tripod.  A  hole  may  be  made  (C)  so  that  the  regular  tripod 
screw  can  be  used  when  taking  photographs  of  other  objects. 

Occasionally  it  is  desirable  to  take  a  photograph  of  the  old 
bird  on  the  nest,  but  this  is  by  no  means  easy.  The  camera 
should  be  arranged  and  focussed  on  the  nest  while  the  parent  bird 
is  away,  taking  care  to  remove  the  leaves  or  twigs  that  would  be 
out  of  focus  in  the  immediate  foreground.  The  instrument  must 
be  concealed  to  some  extent  by  leaves  and  twigs,  and  the  operator 
will  have  to  take  pains  to  see  that  nothing  interferes  with  the 
working  of  the  shutter.  A  long  tube  must  be  substituted  for  the 
short  one,  and  either  a  large  bulb  or,  if  convenient,  a  bicycle 
hand-pump  will  answer  the  purpose  admirably.  In  this  way  I 
have  made  time  exposures  with  the  camera  fastened  to  the  higher 
branches  of  a  tree,  where  the  shade  made  it  necessary  to  give  a 
five-second  exposure  and  I  found  that  the  branch  shook  if  I  stood 
on  it.  Once  a  tube  nearly  forty  feet  long  was  used,  and  with  the 
aid  of  the  bicycle  pump  1  got  an  excellent  picture. 

A  very  useful  accessory  to  the  bird-nest  photographer's  out- 
fit is  a  pair  of  pruning  clippers  for  removing  small  twigs  and 
leaves. 

The  surroundings  of  the  nest  should  not  be  disturbed  more 
than  one  can  help,  since  this  gives  an  artificial  appearance  to  the 
picture  and  is  apt  to  frighten  away  the  owners. 


Chapter  V 

HINTS  ON  THE  REARING  AND  KEEPING  OF 
BIRDS 

MOST  of  the  hard-billed  birds  and  many  of  the  soft-billed  may 
be  reared  with  ease,  but  the  latter  are  rather  more  delicate.  The 
hard-billed  birds,  so  called,  include  the  finches,  sparrows,  and  any 
birds  that  break  seed.  The  soft-billed  are  those  that  eat  chiefly 
insects  and  fruit. 

People  often  complain  that  their  birds  die  from  no  apparent 
cause  :  my  experience  has  been  quite  different,  for  though  I  have 
reared  a  good  many  birds  of  various  kinds,  I  have  never  had  but 
one  death  in  my  bird  family,  and  that  was  a  young  redstart  which 
had  fallen  from  the  top  of  a  tree,  where  its  nest  was  situated.  I 
attribute  my  good  fortune  to  the  fact  that  my  young  birds  get  their 
meals  with  regularity  and  with  each  meal  a  drink  of  water. 

I  believe  it  is  the  lack  of  water  that  is  responsible  for  so  many 
deaths,  especially  when  the  birds  are  very  young. 

The  best  time  to  take  fledglings  is  about  a  day  or  so  before 
they  are  ready  to  leave  the  nest ;  they  are  then  fairly  strong  and 
have  something  to  boast  of  in  the  way  of  looks. 

When  the  nest  happens  to  be  a  long  way  from  home,  it  is 
necessary  to  feed  the  birds  every  hour  en  route.  With  any  of  the 
frugivorous  varieties  a  blackcap  or  any  thoroughly  ripe  berry  may 
be  given,  but  it  should  first  be  masticated.  For  regular  diet  during 
the  first  two  weeks  or  so  feed  with  mashed  boiled  potato  thor- 
oughly mixed  with  the  yolk  of  eggs  hard  boiled  ;  this  must  not 
be  used  if  in  the  least  sour,  and  to  guard  against  this  it  should 
be  made  fresh  every  day.  A  small  smooth  stick  of  hard,  non- 
absorbent  wood,  such  as  clay-modellers  employ,  may  be  used  for  a 
spoon  ;  after  each  meal  it  should  be  dipped  into  water  and  a  few 
drops  put  into  the  bird's  mouth  ;  every  hour  this  performance 
takes  place,  from  six  in  the  morning  till  nearly  dark.  You  see 

24 


Hints  on  the  Rearing  and  Keeping  of  Birds 

bird  children  are  almost  as  much  trouble  as  the  human  variety, 
and  no  one  should  keep  them  who  is  not  willing  to  take  infinite 
pains. 

The  next  aiticle  of  diet  should  be  ants'  eggs  (which  may  be 
procured  from  any  bird  fancier),  mixed  with  the  potato  and  eggs — 
a  little  at  first,  and  gradually  increasing  the  amount ;  finally,  with 
hard-billed  birds,  seed  may  be  given  as  soon  as  the  bill  is  hard 
enough,  though  at  first  it  is  sometimes  necessary  to  crack  the 
hemp-seed  before  giving  it. 

For  soft-billed  birds  I  know  of  nothing  better  than  what  is 
known  as  "mocking-bird  food"  ;  this  may  be  bought  either  in 
the  dry  or  the  moist  form.  The  latter  kind  can  be  made  from  the 
following  recipe  : 

6  parts  corn-meal. 

6  parts  pea-meal. 

6  parts  German  moss-meal. 

Add  a  little  melted  lard  and  molasses,  fry  well  for  half  an  hour, 
keeping  it  well  stirred.  If  put  in  a  covered  jar  it  will  keep  for  a 
long  time. 

This  is  rather  rich,  and  if  found  to  disagree  with  the  bird  the 
dry  form  of  food  should  be  substituted,  mixing  it  fresh  every  day 
with  grated  carrot  and  water  sufficient  to  moisten  it.  Birds  must 
be  watched  carefully  to  see  that  their  food  agrees  with  them  ;  ex- 
cept when  moulting  they  should  be  lively  and  have  good  appetites ; 
if  such  is  not  the  case,  it  is  probable  that  the  food  does  not  suit 
them,  and  a  change  should  be  made  immediately.  Occasionally 
birds  have  fits  ;  that  is  to  say,  they  drop  down  without  any  warn- 
ing, and  either  lie  perfectly  still,  with  feet  upturned  as  though 
dead,  or  they  revolve  rapidly  while  on  the  ground.  This  hap- 
pened to  one  of  my  favourite  pet  birds,  and  in  despair  I  consulted 
a  bird  dealer,  who  told  me  to  cut  the  nail  and  thus  draw  blood. 
I  did  so,  but  without  any  result.  Several  times  on  alternate  days 
the  poor  bird  had  these  fits,  and  every  time  we  believed  him  to 
be  dying.  Finally,  as  a  last  resource,  we  changed  his  diet  from 
the  moist  to  the  dry  food  with  plenty  of  carrot,  and  from  that  day 
he  has  been  perfectly  well,  very  much  to  our  delight. 

It  is  advisable  to  give  birds  as  much  ripe  fruit  and  green  stuff 
as  they  wish.  Young  lettuce  they  are  particularly  fond  of,  but 
they  will  eat  almost  any  young  leaves. 

25 


Hints  on  the  Rearing  and  Keeping  of  Birds 

Frequent  baths  will  do  much  toward  keeping  birds  clean  and 
healthy  ;  every  day  or  two  they  should  be  given,  but  it  will  be 
noticed  that  during  the  period  of  moulting  the  bath  will  be  but 
little  used. 

Never  put  young  birds,  no  matter  how  young  they  may  be,  in 
any  artificial  nest  that  differs  essentially  in  texture  from  their  own  ; 
for  example,  a  young  crow  or  catbird  should  have  sticks  and  not 
soft  rags  or  cotton,  but  a  young  phoebe  may  get  along  very  well 
in  a  cotton  nest.  The  reason  for  this  is  that  some  birds  require 
greater  development  of  the  leg  muscles  than  others,  and  when 
quite  young  they  keep  their  feet  in  constant  motion,  grasping  the 
small  twigs  that  form  the  inside  of  the  nest ;  in  this  way  they 
develop  and  strengthen  the  necessary  muscles  of  the  leg.  When 
unnatural  conditions  have  prevented  this  exercise,  I  have  known 
the  birds  to  become  partly  paralysed  and  die,  and  I  have  no  doubt 
that  the  absence  of  suitable  rough  material  was  the  direct  cause. 
Nature  is  very  wise  in  regard  to  her  children,  and  you  will  do 
well  to  follow  her  example  whenever  you  are  at  a  loss. 

Should  young  birds  become  droopy,  a  little  diluted  whiskey 
or  paregoric  put  in  their  mouths  with  a  medicine-dropper  will 
generally  restore  them  to  normal  condition. 

Cage-fighting  invariably  takes  place  sooner  or  later  ;  as  a  rule 
it  only  lasts  a  day  or  so,  but  if  persisted  in  cover  the  cage  with 
fine  wire  mosquito  netting,  so  that  the  bird  may  not  be  able  to 
get  his  beak  through. 

At  night  the  cage  should  always  be  covered,  otherwise  the 
birds  wake  at  amazingly  early  hours  ;  this  applies  more  particu- 
larly to  fledglings,  as  their  waking  means  they  must  be  fed,  and  it 
is  riot  always  pleasant  to  have  to  get  up  at  daylight  to  minister  to 
their  wants. 


26 


MALE  ROSE-BREASTED  GROSBEAK,  ONE  YEAR  OLD,  TAKING  A  SUN-BATH 


Chapter  VI 

NOTES 

THE  illustrations  of  nests  in  this  book  are  from  photographs, 
which,  with  few  exceptions,  were  taken  without  disturbing  either 
the  nest  or  its  surroundings.  In  a  few  instances,  such  as  the  nests 
of  the  bluebird,  downy  woodpecker,  and  crested  flycatcher,  the 
branch  was  cut  down,  and  an  opening  made  in  order  to  show  the 
eggs.  The  photographs  of  both  young  and  old  birds  are  from  life. 

Under  the  headings  of  breeding  range  the  reference  is  only 
to  the  United  States,  and  only  the  land  birds  that  breed  in  the 
Eastern  States  are  described.  The  description  of  the  plumage 
of  each  bird  is  not  meant  to  be  very  complete  ;  the  principal  char- 
acteristics are  given  so  that  the  bird  may  be  recognised.  No 
attempt  has  been  made  to  give  the  notes  or  songs  of  the  birds. 

The  number  before  the  name  of  each  bird  is  the  number 
adopted  by  the  American  Ornithologists'  Union  check-list,  and 
will  save  looking  through  the  index  when  referring  to  other  works 
on  birds. 

The  book  is  arranged  so  that  all  the  birds  that  build  open 
nests  on  the  open  ground  are  in  one  chapter,  those  that  build 
open  nests  in  woods  or  thickets  are  in  another  chapter,  and  so  on. 
In  cases  where  a  bird  builds  usually  in  a  bush  but  sometimes  in 
the  open  fields  the  description  is  given  under  the  heading  of  nests 
in  bushes,  etc.,  and  the  name  of  the  bird,  together  with  the  colour 
of  the  eggs,  is  referred  to  in  its  numerical  order  in  the  chapter  of 
nests  in  open  fields,  etc.  Thus,  for  example,  if  an  arched  nest  is 
found  in  a  field  or  swamp,  it  will  be  necessary  to  look  in  Chapter 
III.  But  it  may  be  the  nest  of  a  seaside  sparrow,  which  is  rarely 
arched  ;  in  that  case  you  will  be  referred  to  Chapter  I  for  the  de- 
scription. All  measurements  of  birds  and  eggs  are  given  in  inches 
and  hundredths. 

The  sign  $  signifies  male,  and  ?  female. 
27 


Notes 

I  must  acknowledge  my  indebtedness  to  many  works,  in 
particular  to  the  following  :  Frank  M.  Chapman's  "Handbook  of 
Birds,"  Davie's  "  Nests  and  Eggs  of  North  American  Birds,"  H. 
D.  Minot's  "The  Land  Birds  and  Game  Birds  of  New  England," 
Charles  Bendire's  "Life  Histories  of  North  American  Birds,  with 
Special  Reference  to  their  Breeding  Habits  and  Eggs,"  and  the  A. 
O.  U.  check-list  of  North  American  birds. 


28 


APPROXIMATE    DATES    WHEN    BIRDS    BEGIN 
TO   NEST 

THESE  DATES  APPLY  TO  THE  VICINITY  OF  NEW  YORK  (WITHIN  ONE 
HUNDRED  MILES  OF  THE  CITY)  EXCEPT  WHEN  THE  BIRD'S  RANGE 
IS  NOT  WITHIN  THAT  AREA,  OR  WHEN  OTHERWISE  SPECIFIED 


January  :   First  week. 
February  :  Fourth  week. 


March  :  First   week. 


Second 
Third 

Fourth 


Some  time  during  March. 


April  :  First  week. 


352  Bald  Eagle  (Fla.) 

349  Golden  Eagle  (Cal.) 

375  Great  Horned  Owl 

484  Canada  Jay  (Me.) 

521  American  Crossbill 

328  White-tailed  Kite  (S.  C.) 

331  Marsh  Hawk 

362  Audubon's  Caracara 

368  Barred  Owl 

367  Short-eared  Owl  (Ohio) 

474#  Prairie  Horned  Lark  (Iowa) 

372  Sawwhet  Owl 

373  Screech  Owl 

392  Ivory-billed  Woodpecker  (?) 

326  Black  Vulture 

330  Swallow-tailed  Kite 

3390  Florida   Red-shouldered   Hawk 

(Fla.) 

356  Duck  Hawk  (Southern  States) 

395  Red  Cockaded  Woodpecker  (?) 

479  Florida  Jay  (Fla.) 

729  Brown-headed  Nuthatch 

316  Mourning  Dove 

332  Sharped-shinned  Hawk 
337  Red-tailed  Hawk 

343  Broad-winged  Hawk 
29 


Approximate  Dates  When  Birds  Begin  to  Nest 


April  :  First  week. 


Second 


Third 


Fourth 


Some  time  during  April. 


May  :  First  week. 


366  American  Long-eared  Owl 

488  American  Crow 

766  Bluebird 

360  American  Sparrow  Hawk 

456  Phoebe 

727  White-breasted  Nuthatch 

761  American  Robin 

300  Ruffed  Grouse 

305  Prairie  Hen  (Kansas) 

333  Cooper's  Hawk 

365  American  Barn  Owl 

511  Purple  Crackle 

547  Henslow's  Sparrow  (111.) 

593  Cardinal 

329  Mississippi  Kite 

364  American  Osprey  ;  Fish  Hawk 

394  Downy  Woodpecker 

663  Yellow-throated  Warbler 

2890  Florida  Bob-white  (Fla.) 

320  Ground  Dove 

325  Turkey  Vulture 

327  Swallow-tailed  Kite 

339  Red-shouldered  Hawk 

3780  Florida  Burrowing  Owl  (Fla.) 

416  Chuck-will's-widow  (Fla.) 

513  Boat-tailed  Grackle  (Fla.) 

5750  Bachman's  Sparrow 

731  Tufted  Titmouse 

390  Belted  Kingfisher 

406  Red-headed  Woodpecker 

409  Red-bellied  Woodpecker 

412  Golden-winged    Woodpecker ; 
Flicker. 

477  Blue  Jay 

501  Meadow-lark. 

533  Pine  Finch  ;  Siskin  (New  Eng- 
land) 

560  Chipping  Sparrow 

563  Field  Sparrow 

581  Song  Sparrow 
30 


Approximate  Dates  When  Birds  Begin  to  Nest 


May  :  First  week. 


Second 


Third 


613  Barn  Swallow 

617  Rough-winged  Swallow 

676  Louisiana  Water-thrush 

703  Mockingbird  (Va.) 
718  Carolina  Wren 
393  Hairy  Woodpecker 
467  Least  Flycatcher 
494  Bobolink 

498  Red-winged  Blackbird 

5420  Savanna  Sparrow 

546  Yellow-winged    or    Grasshop- 
per Sparrow 

584  Swamp  Sparrow 

587  Chewink  ;  Towhee 

601  Painted  Bunting 

610  Summer  Tanager 

611  Purple  Martin 

614  Tree  Swallow 
616  Bank  Swallow 

638  Swainson's  Warbler 

652  Yellow  Warbler 

654  Black-throated  Blue  Warbler 

658  Cerulean  Warbler  (?) 

674  Oven-bird 

675  Water  Thrush 

683  Yellow-breasted  Chat 

704  Catbird 

705  Brown  Thrasher 
721  House  Wren 
726  Brown  Creeper 
735  Chickadee 

755  Wood  Thrush 

289  Bob-white 

388  Black-billed  Cuckoo 

420  Nighthawk  (New  England) 

423  Chimney  Swift 

452  Crested  Flycatcher 

461  Wood  Pewee 

490  Fish  Crow 

506  Orchard  Oriole 
31 


Approximate  Dates  When  Birds  Begin  to  Nest 


May  :  Third  week. 


Fourth 


Some  time  during  May. 


507     Baltimore  Oriole 

517  Purple  Finch 

540  Vesper  Sparrow 

549  Sharp-tailed  Sparrow 

550  Seaside  Sparrow 

595  Rose-breasted  Grosbeak 

612  Cliff  Swallow 

624  Red-eyed  Vireo 

627  Warbling  Vireo 

631  White-eyed  Vireo 

656  Black-and-white  Warbler 

639  Bachman's  Warbler 

659  Chestnut-sided  Warbler 

68 1  Maryland  Yellow-throat 

687  American  Redstart 

722  Winter  Wren 

724  Short-billed  Marsh  Wren 

725  Long-billed  Marsh  Wren 
756  Wilson's  Thrush 

428  Ruby-throated  Hummingbird 

444  Kingbird 

459  Olive-sided  Flycatcher 

598  Indigo  Bunting. 

608  Scarlet  Tanager 

641  Blue-winged  Warbler 

648  Parula 

655  Myrtle  Warbler 

662  Blackburnian  Warbler 

677  Kentucky  Warbler 

684  Hooded  Warbler 

759#  Hermit  Thrush 

298  Canada  Grouse 

445  Gray  Kingbird 
567*2  Carolina  Junco 

575  Pine-woods  Sparrow 

597  Blue  Grosbeak 

604  Dickcissel 

622  Loggerhead  Shrike 

637  Prothonotary  Warbler 

751  Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher 
32 


Approximate  Dates  When  Birds  Begin  to  Nest 

June  :  First  week.  387     Yellow-billed  Cuckoo 

400    Arctic      Three  -  toed      Wood- 
pecker (?) 

"         "  417     Whip-poor-will 

"          "         "  465     Acadian  Flycatcher 

"         "  558    White-throated  Sparrow  (New 

England) 

"         "  619     Cedarbird 

"         "  645     Nashville  Warbler 

"         "  657     Magnolia  Warbler 

686    Canadian  Warbler 

Second  "  7580  Olive-backed  Thrush 

Third     "  529    American  Goldfinch 

Fourth   "  66 1     Blackpoll  Warbler 

552     Lark  Sparrow 
567    Junco  ;  Snowbird 
583     Lincoln's  Sparrow  (Col.) 
667     Black-throated  Green  Warbler 
728     Red-breasted  Nuthatch 


Some  time  during  June. 


33 


Love  Notes  of  Spring 

BY  T.  W.  BURGESS 

Good  morrow,  Mistress  Chickadee, 

My  Quakeress  in  sober  gray, 
I  hear  Tom  Titmouse  calling  thee, 

Softly  calling  far  away, 
"Phoebe!  See  me!  Phoebe  Gray! 

See  me  Phoebe!  See  me,  pray!" 
Ah,  Tom,  you  black-capped  rogue,  didst 

guess 
My  heart  would  also  fain  confess 

To  softly  calling  all  the  day, 
"Phoebe!  Phoebe!  Phoebe  Gray?" 

And  thou,  Sir  Bluebird,  debonair! 

Thou  hidden  herald  of  the  spring! 
We  joy  once  more  to  faintly  hear 

Thy  sweet,  soft  love  note  plaintive  ring: 
"I  love,  my  love!  I  love  thee! 

My  love,  I  love!  My  love  see!" 
Ah,  loyal  knight,  in  heaven's  blue, 
How  couldst  thou  know  that  beating  true 

My  heart  doth  plead  and  call  with  thee, 
"My  love,  I  love!    My  love  see!" 


PART  II 


Chapter   I 

OPEN  NESTS  ON  THE  GROUND,  IN  OPEN 
FIELDS,  MARSHES,  AND  GENERALLY 
OPEN  COUNTRY 

289.    Bob-white;  Quail:   Colinus  virginianus  (Linn.) 

Adult  $  —Plumage  :  Upper  parts  reddish  brown,  with  more  or 
less  complete  black  bars  ;  rump  warm  rich  gray,  slightly 
mottled  and  streaked  with  nearly  black  marks  ;  tail  very 
gray  ;  head  black  in  front  of  crown  ;  black  band  across 
breast ;  throat  and  superciliary  line  white,  belly  whitish. 
Length — 10.00. 

Adult  ?  — Duller,  black  band  on  breast  indistinct. 

Breeding  Range — Throughout  the  Eastern  States,  from  Maine  to 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

Nest  on  the  ground  in  open  fields,  grain  fields,  scrubby 
places,  and  frequently  along  a  roadside,  near  a  stone  wall  or 
fence.  Usually  the  nest  is  open,  but  it  is  sometimes  roughly 
arched  ;  it  is  loosely  made  of  grasses,  leaves,  weeds,  and  straw. 
The  eggs  are  white,  more  or  less  stained  with  light  brown,  vary- 
ing in  number  from  10  to  18,  though  sometimes  as  many  as  25 
are  laid  (Davie).  Size — 1.20  x  .95. 

The  Quail,  Bob-white,  or  Partridge  is  so  well  known  that 
but  little  need  here  be  said  of  it.  Except  during  the  breeding 
season,  the  birds  are  always  to  be  found  in  bevies,  or  they  might 
be  called  families,  which,  when  scattered  by  the  sportsman,  re- 
unite and  continue  living  in  or  about  the  same  locality.  The 
mating  season  begins  very  early  in  May,  and  eggs  are  to  be  found 
from  the  third  week  in  May  until  late  in  the  summer,  and  rarely 

35 


Open  Nests  on  the  Ground 

even  in  early  fall,  two  or  three  broods  being  reared  by  a  single 
pair.  Incubation  occupies  24  days,  both  birds  assisting.  Minot, 
in  his  book,  "The  Land  Birds  and  Game  Birds  of  New  Eng- 
land," says,  "  It  is  not  uncommon  to  find  a  covey  of  young  quail 
hardly  able  to  fly  even  in  November." 

The  nest  is  fairly  easy  to  find,  especially  when  the  parent 
bird  is  not  sitting,  as  the  white  eggs  are  very  conspicuous  ;  but 
when  the  old  bird  is  on  the  nest  her  protective  colouring  serves 
its  purpose  and  makes  her  difficult  to  see.  A  likely  place  for  the 
nest  is  on  a  farm,  in  the  dry,  grassy  fields,  or  along  the  farm  roads 
where  there  is  a  rank  growth  of  weeds. 

2S9a.    Florida  Bob-white :  C.  v.  f loridanus  (Coues) 

This  is  a  sub-species  of  the  more  northern  quail,  being 
smaller  and  darker  in  colour.  Length— 8.50.  The  breeding 
habits  are  described  as  identical,  except  that  "they  begin  to 
pair  early  in  March." 

3O5.    Prairie  Hen:  Tympanuchus  americanus  (Reich.) 

Adult  $  — "  Upper  parts  barred  with  rufous  and  black,  and  spotted 
with  rufous  ;  sides  of  the  neck  with  tufts  generally  com- 
posed of  ten  or  more  narrow,  stiffened  black  feathers  marked 
with  buffy  and  rufous,  their  ends  rounded,  the  skin  beneath 
these  tufts  bare  ;  tail  rounded,  fuscous,  the  inner  feathers 
somewhat  mottled  with  ochraceous-buff,  tip  white,  throat 
buffy,  breast  and  belly  white,  evenly  barred  with  black. 

Adult  $ — "Similar,  but  the  neck  tufts  much  smaller  and  the  tail 
barred  with  ochraceous  or  rufous.  Length — 18.00."  (Chap- 
man.) 

Breeding  Range — The  prairies  of  the  Mississippi  Valley,  east  to 
Kentucky  and  western  Ohio,  and  north  to  southern  Mani- 
toba. 

The  nest,  which  is  placed  in  a  slight  hollow  in  the  ground,  is 
made  of  grasses  and  feathers ;  it  is  usually  found  in  the  prairie 
grass,  "  and  at  the  foot  of  bushes  on  the  barren  ground."  8  to 
14  eggs  are  laid;  they  are  grayish  buff,  sometimes  speckled  with 
brown.  Size — 1.70  x  1.25. 

The  Prairie  Hen  is  said  to  be  now  much  less  common 
throughout  its  eastern  range  than  it  was  formerly,  though  it  is 

36 


BOB-WHITE'S    NEST    FULL    OF    EGGS. 


Open  Nests  on  the  Ground 

still  the  common  game  bird  of  the  Central  States.  The  habits  dur- 
ing the  mating  season  have  been  well  described  by  Colonel  Goss. 
"They  select  a  smooth  open  courtship  ground  (usually  called  a 
scratching  ground),  where  the  males  assemble  at  the  early  dawn 
to  vie  with  each  other  in  courage  and  pompous  display,  uttering 
at  the  same  time  their  love  call,  a  loud  booming  noise;  as  soon 
as  this  is  heard  by  the  hen  birds  desirous  of  mating,  they  quietly 
put  in  an  appearance,  squat  upon  the  ground,  apparently  indiffer- 
ent observers,  until  claimed  by  victorious  rivals." 

They  breed  towards  the  end  of  April  in  Kansas  and  Nebraska. 
Incubation  occupies  from  three  to  four  weeks. 

325.    Turkey  Vulture  or  Buzzard  :  Cathartes  aura  (Linn.) 

Eggs  creamy  white  with  brownish  or  reddish  blotches  and 
purplish  spots. 

See  Page  57,  Chapter  II. 

326.    Black  Vulture:  Catharista  atrata  (Bartr.) 

Eggs  bluish  white  with  dark  brown  blotches. 
See  Page  58,  Chapter  II. 


331.    Marsh  Harrier  or  Marsh   Hawk:  Circus  hudsonius 
(Linn.) 

Adult  $  — Upper  parts  light  bluish  gray ;  rump  white ;  tail  barred 
black  or  brownish ;  breast  light  gray  at  upper  part  shading 
into  white;  belly  white  barred  warm  brown. 

Adult  $ — Upper  parts  dark  brownish;  wing  coverts  edged  with 
light  rusty  brown  ;  under  parts  dark  buff  streaked  with 
brown. 

Immature  birds  resemble  the  adult  ?  without  the  streaks 
on  the  belly.      $  Length — 19.00. 

Breeding  Range — The  entire  United  States. 

The  nest  is  placed  on  the  ground,  and  is  "from  three  to 
seven  inches  high  and  a  foot  or  more  in  diameter;  "  it  is  formed 
of  grass,  twigs,  and  sometimes  moss.  The  eggs  are  white  or 
bluish  white,  occasionally  marked  with  pale  brown  spots.  Size 
— i. 80  x  1.45. 

37 


Open  Nests  on  the  Ground 

The  Marsh  Harrier,  or  Blue  Hawk  as  it  is  sometimes  called, 
is  easily  recognisable  by  its  white  rump,  which  during  flight  is 
very  conspicuous.  They  may  be  seen  in  almost  any  marshy  or 
low  scrub  land,  flying  within  a  few  feet  of  the  ground  or  hover- 
ing in  mid-air  watching  for  their  prey.  During  the  mating  sea- 
son the  male  bird  performs  the  most  remarkable  evolutions  in 
mid-air,  with  the  evident  intention  of  winning  the  admiration  of 
his  would-be  mate.  They  "  frequently  begin  to  incubate  with 
the  first  egg  and  the  young  are  hatched  at  intervals."  The  nest- 
ing season  begins  in  Massachusetts  early  in  May.  Davie  says 
that  fresh  eggs  may  be  found  from  May  ist  to  June  I5th  or  2oth, 
according  to  locality.  The  nests  are  placed  in  open  marshes  or 
low  lands. 


364.    American  Osprey  or  Fish  Hawk :  Pandion  haliaetus 
carolinensis  (Gmel.) 

Eggs  very  variable  in  colour.  At  times  white  or  creamy 
white,  either  unmarked,  oftener  very  heavily  blotched  with 
browns  and  chocolate. 

See  Page  129,  Chapter  VIII. 


367.    Short-eared  Owl :  Asio  accipitrinus  (Pall.) 

Adult—  Upper  parts  except  tail  brownish,  the  feathers  edged  with 
buff ;  the  tail  has  bands  of  deep  buff  and  dark  brown  ;  breast 
light  to  dark  buff  with  streaks  of  dark  brown,  heavily  marked 
on  breast  and  more  finely  on  belly  ;  the  ear-tufts  are  very 
short  and  close  together.  Length — 15.50. 

Breeding  Range—  Throughout  the  United  States. 

The  nest  is  made  of  soft  grass,  sticks,  and  a  few  feathers 
from  the  parent  bird,  and  is  placed  on  the  ground  in  a  depres- 
sion, beneath  a  log  or  in  a  burrow  (Davie).  4  to  7  white  eggs 
are  laid.  Size— 1.55  x  1.25. 

The  Short-eared  or  Marsh  Owl,  unlike  most  other  members 
of  its  family,  lives  away  from  the  woods  and  may  generally  be 
found  in  large  swamps  or  marshes.  Formerly  it  was  known  to 
breed  in  Massachusetts,  but  Brewster  says,  "I  know  of  no 
authentic  record  of  its  breeding  in  any  part  of  New  England 

38 


Open  Nests  on  the  Ground 

within  the  past  ten  years."     In  Ohio  the  nesting  season  begins 
about  the  end  of  March. 


42O.    Night-hawk;    Bull-bat:   Chordeiles  virginianus 
(Gmel.) 

Adult  $ — Upper  parts  dark  blackish  brown  mottled  with  buff; 
wings  dark  brown  with  conspicuous  white  patch  ;  breast 
black,  feathers  tipped  with  white  or  buff ;  throat  white  ; 
belly  grayish  white,  barred  with  black  ;  tail  dark  brownish, 
barred  with  buff,  a  white  band  near  the  end  of  all  but  the 
two  middle  feathers. 

Adult  ? — Nearly  the  same,  the  throat  being  buff  instead  of 
white  and  no  white  on  tail.  Length — 10.00. 

Breeding  Range — Throughout  the  Eastern  States. 

There  is  no  nest,  the  eggs,  two  in  number,  being  laid  on  the 
bare  ground  in  a  field,  on  rocks,  or  even  on  the  flat  roof  of  a 
building  either  in  the  country  or  in  the  big  cities.  The  eggs  are 
olive-buff,  light  gray,  or  greenish,  with  numerous  irregular 
blotches  and  specks  or  thickly  marked  with  evenly  distributed 
spots  of  darker  gray,  olive,  and  purplish.  Size — 1.20  x  .86.  See 
Fig.  9,  Plate  B. 

These  birds,  though  called  Night-hawks,  do  a  great  deal  of 
flying  during  the  daytime,  especially  towards  the  end  of  sum- 
mer, when  they  may  be  seen  at  almost  any  time  of  day  flying 
about  over  the  open  country.  They  are  sometimes  mistaken 
for  the  whip-poor-will,  though  the  white  patch  on  the  wing  and 
the  white  throat  should  serve  to  identify  them.  Their  flight  is 
also  very  different,  and  generally,  though  by  no  means  always, 
they  fly  higher  than  the  whip-poor-will.  Late  in  the  afternoon 
they  may  be  seen  flying  high  above  the  city,  looking  almost  like 
large  bats. 

The  eggs  are  exceedingly  difficult  to  find,  as  their  colouring 
so  closely  matches  the  ground  ;  even  when  the  bird  is  startled 
from  the  eggs  and  tries,  as  many  birds  do,  to  divert  attention 
from  the  eggs  to  herself,  by  a  pretended  broken  wing  or  leg,  it 
is  often  only  after  a  long  and  careful  search  that  the  eggs  are 
discovered. 

The  nesting  season  in  New  England  begins  about  the  end 
of  May. 

39 


Open  Nests  on  the  Ground 


42Ob.    Florida  Night-hawk:  C.  v.  chapmani  (Coues) 

This  bird  differs  from  the  preceding  in  that  it  is  smaller, 
being  little  more  than  8%  inches  in  length  instead  of  10  inches, 
and  the  lighter  markings  on  the  upper  parts  are  more  numerous. 


474b.    Prairie    Horned    Lark:    Otocoris    alpestris    prati- 
cola  Hensh. 

Adult  $  —Forehead  and  line  over  eye  whitish  ;  crown  black 
with  tufts  on  either  side  ;  from  the  eye  to  the  bill,  and  sides 
of  throat,  black  ;  throat  white  or  very  pale  yellow  ;  back 
salmon  brown  ;  lower  parts  white  or  whitish  ;  breast  has  a 
crescent-shaped  black  patch. 

Adult  ?  —Differing  but  little  from  the  3 ,  the  markings  being  less 
defined.  Length— 7.25. 

Breeding  Range — Upper  Mississippi  Valley,  to  eastern  New  York 
and  western  Massachusetts. 

The  nest,  which  is  placed  on  the  ground  in  a  slight  depres- 
sion, is  made  of  "  dry  grasses  and  corn  leaves,  lined  with  a  few 
feathers  and  horse  hairs."  3  to  4  eggs  are  laid.  They  are  very 
pale  bluish  green,  or  pale  olive  thickly  and  evenly  speckled  with 
light  brownish  and  lilac.  Size — .84  x  .62.  See  Fig.  10,  Plate  B. 

This  bird  so  nearly  resembles  the  horned  lark  that  it  may 
easily  be  confused  with  it,  unless  both  kinds  be  at  hand  for  com- 
parison. Its  smaller  size  and  lighter  colour  should  serve  to  distin- 
guish it,  and  if  found  nesting,  the  fact  that  it  breeds  within  the 
United  States,  whilst  the  horned  lark  seeks  the  more  northern 
parts  of  North  America  and  Europe.  Formerly  it  was  not  known 
to  breed  in  the  more  eastern  States,  being  an  inhabitant  of  the 
prairies,  but  since  conditions  have  changed  with  the  advent  of 
civilisation  and  large  tracts  of  country  have  been  cleared,  it 
has  become  fairly  common  in  parts  of  its  eastern  range. 

Two  or  three  broods  are  reared  during  the  season,  the  first 
nest  being  built  as  early  as  the  end  of  March  (in  Iowa),  and  the 
third  as  late  as  the  beginning  of  August.  The  first  nest  is  said 
to  be  elaborately  made,  while  the  second  and  third  are  put  to- 
gether in  a  slovenly  manner.  This  may  be  attributed  to  the  fact 
that  during  the  earlier  part  of  the  season  the  weather  is  likely  to 
be  bad  for  ground  nests,  owing  to  the  frequent  rains,  thus  neces- 

40 


• 


NEST    AND    EGGS   OF    BOBOLINK    ON    THE    GROUND    IN    A    MEADOW 


Open  Nests  on  the  Ground 

sitating  the  building  of  a  stronger  nest  than  would  be  required 
during  the  finer  weather  of  June  and  July. 

The  nests  may  usually  be  found  in  dry  fields  of  either  grass 
or  corn. 


494.    Bobolink:  Dolichonyx  oryzivorus  (Linn.) 

Adult  $  —Breeding  plumage  :  Forehead,  throat,  and  under  parts 
black,  the  feathers  being  slightly  tipped  with  light  buff  during 
the  earlier  part  of  the  season  ;  back  of  head  and  neck  light 
buff ;  back,  dark  dusky  feathers  with  buff  markings  ;  upper 
part  of  rump  whitish  ;  wings  and  tail  black,  the  tail  feathers 
having  pointed  tips. 

Adult  9  — Upper  parts  dark  buff  with  black  streaks  ;  wings  and 
tail  brown  ;  under  parts  light  buff. 

Adult  3  — Except  during  breeding  season  and  when  immature 
resembles  the  female.  Length — 7.25. 

Breeding  Range — Southern  New  York  to  Nova  Scotia,  west  as  far 
as  Utah. 

The  nest  is  placed  on  the  ground  in  meadows,  and  is  formed 
of  grass  with  occasionally  a  few  leaves,  the  inside  being  lined 
with  fine  grass.  Usually  it  is  an  open  nest  about  one  and  a  half 
inches  deep  inside,  but  sometimes  it  is  partly  concealed  by  grass 
bent  over  so  as  to  form  a  sort  of  rough  arch.  3  to  6  and  rarely  7 
eggs  are  laid.  They  vary  greatly  both  in  colour  and  size,  ranging 
from  white  with  distinct  chocolate  markings,  to  grayish  buff 
with  large  brown  blotches  which  nearly  cover  the  ground  colour; 
in  size  they  range  from  about  .55  x  .79  to  .66  x  .90 — the  average 
is  about  .63  x  .85.  See  Fig.  2,  Plate  B. 

He  who  has  not  had  the  pleasure  of  hearing  and  seeing  the 
Bobolink  during  the  breeding  season  has  a  great  treat  in  store. 
This  sweet  little  songster  seems  to  be  the  very  embodiment  of 
pure  happiness,  spending  most  of  his  time  singing  the  song  that 
has  inspired  both  poet  and  author.  Probably  no  bird  of  the  New 
World  has  been  so  frequently  mentioned  in  the  literature  of  the 
country.  While  the  bird  is  in  flight  the  song  is  particularly 
enchanting,  reminding  one  to  a  certain  extent  of  the  European 
skylark,  though  it  is  perhaps  richer  in  tone. 

To  find  the  bird  is  very  different  from  finding  the  nest;  it 
takes  many  hours  of  patient  searching.  You  may  hide  near  the 

41 


Open  Nests  on  the  Ground 

edge  of  some  likely  looking  field,  and  watch  each  female  bobo- 
link as  she  drops  in  the  long  grass  to  where  you  think  her  nest 
may  be ;  but  when  you  arrive  at  the  place  she  flies  up,  and  in 
vain  you  may  search  for  the  carefully  concealed  nest.  The  most 
satisfactory  method  is  for  two  persons  to  walk  through  the  field 
holding  either  end  of  a  cord  along  which  sticks  should  be 
fastened  at  intervals.  These  striking  the  grass  frighten  the  sitting 
bird,  and  she  flies  up  directly  from  the  nest,  instead  of  running 
along  through  the  grass,  as  she  usually  does  when  she  sees  her 
disturber. 

The  best  place  to  find  these  birds  during  the  breeding  time 
is  in  the  large  tracts  of  moderately  moist  meadow  land,  usually 
not  very  far  from  water.  The  nest  is  completed  about  May  i5th 
in  northern  New  Jersey. 

Long  before  the  breeding  season  the  male  is  conspicuous 
with  his  fine  feathers,  but  in  early  August  he  dons  the  same 
colours  as  his  mate  and  children,  when  they  all  start  in  large  flocks 
for  their  winter  quarters  in  South  America,  stopping  in  a  leisurely 
manner  en  route  among  the  reedy  swamps,  and  visiting  again  the 
rice-fields  which  were  in  the  springtime  the  scene  of  the  depre- 
dations of  the  old  birds.  Then  it  is  no  longer  a  day  of  riotous 
song  ;  that  day  is  forgotten,  for  now  it  is  that  the  so-called 
sportsman  claims  them  under  the  name  of  Reedbird,  and  instead 
of  being  seen  perched  on  the  tall  swaying  grass  or  reed,  you 
may  look  for  them  in  the  markets,  hung  up  in  bundles  of  a  dozen 
or  so,  each  happy  little  life  gone,  leaving  but  a  mouthful  or  two 
of  food. 

5O1.    Meadowlark:  Sturnella  magna  (Linn.) 

Eggs  white  spotted  with  reddish  brown,  chiefly  at  the 
larger  end. 

See  Page  73,  Chapter  III. 

54O.    Vesper  Sparrow;  Bay-winged  Bunting:    Pooceetes 
gramineus  (Gmel.) 

Adult—  Upper  parts  brownish  gray  with  dark  streaks  ;  tail  dark 
brown,  the  outer  feathers  white;  under  parts  grayish  buff 
streaked  with  black.  Length — 6.12. 

Breeding  Range— -From  southern  Virginia  northward  ;  westward 
to  the  plains. 

42 


Open  Nests  on  the  Ground 

The  nest  is  always  placed  on  the  ground,  generally  at  the 
root  of  a  tall  weed  or  small  bush  in  an  open  field  ;  it  is  slightly 
made  of  coarse  and  fine  grass  and  small  roots,  lined  with  horse- 
hair. 4  or  5  eggs  are  laid  ;  they  are  whitish,  thinly  spotted  and 
blotched  with  warm  brown  and  lilac,  with  sometimes  a  few 
black  markings.  Size — .80  x  .60.  See  Fig.  13,  Plate  B. 

These  sparrows  are  distinguished  by  the  white  outside  tail 
feathers,  which  are  extremely  noticeable  when  the  bird  flies. 
Do  not  mistake  it  for  a  junco  or  titlark  !  They  are  among  the 
commonest  of  the  sparrows  in  parts  of  Long  Island  and  in  New 
England,  where  they  commence  breeding  towards  the  end  of 
May,  raising  as  many  as  three  broods  during  the  season.  They 
are  called  Vesper  Sparrows  from  their  habit  of  singing  until  quite 
late  in  the  evening. 

542a.    Savanna  Sparrow:  Ammodramus   sandwichensis 
savanna  (Wils.) 

Adult — Upper  parts  brownish,  darkly  streaked  ;  pale  yellow  line 
over  the  eye  and  at  the  bend  of  the  wing  ;  under  parts  white 
or  whitish  streaked  with  dark  brown.  Length — 5.65. 

Breeding  Range  —  From  southern  New  Jersey  northward  to 
Labrador. 

The  nest  is  built  on  the  ground  in  fields  or  pasture  land 
inland,  or  in  the  salt  marshes  and  grassy  places  on  or  near  the 
coast;  it  is  a  flimsy  structure  of  grasses,  rarely  of  moss,  lined  with 
fine  grass  and  occasionally  horse-hair.  The  number  of  eggs 
varies  from  3  to  6;  they  are  white  or  greenish  white,  with  fine 
brown  spots  or  large  blotches  of  cinnamon.  The  variations  in 
colour  are  so  great  that  any  accurate  description  is  scarcely 
possible.  Size — .78  x  .56.  See  Fig.  15,  Plate  B. 

This  little  sparrow  is  generally  to  be  seen  along  the  sea-coast, 
though  it  is  also  found  inland.  Minot  speaks  of  seeing  them 
breeding  in  the  White  Mountains,  where  he  found  a  nest  con- 
taining fresh  eggs  the  23d  of  July.  They  begin  nesting  in  May, 
and  rear  two  or  three  broods. 

Care  should  be  taken  that  the  Savanna  Sparrow  is  not  con- 
fused with  either  the  sharp-tailed,  seaside,  or  Ipswich  sparrow; 
the  latter,  however,  does  not  breed  in  the  United  States,  but  is  a 
northern-breeding  species,  which,  after  the  breeding  season, 
comes  on  our  northern  Atlantic  seaboard. 

43 


Open  Nests  on  the  Ground 

546.  Yellow-winged  or  Grasshopper   Sparrow:   Ammo- 

dramus  savannarum  passerinus  (Wils.) 

Adult—  Upper  parts  dark  or  dusky,  the  feathers  being  bordered 
with  buff;  back  of  neck  warm  brown  ;  tail  feathers  rather 
short  and  pointed;  under  parts  buffy,  shading  into  white  on 
the  belly.  The  most  distinctive  features  of  this  bird  are  the 
bright  yellow  at  the  bend  of  the  wing  and  the  darker  yellow 
in  front  of  the  eye,  Length  —  5.20. 

Immature  birds   have  the   breast    spotted  with   dark 
brown  or  nearly  black. 

Breeding  Range  —  From  the  Gulf  States  to  New  England,  probably 
not  north  of  Massachusetts. 

The  nest  is  either  arched  or  opened.  It  is  made  of  grass,  with 
fine  grass  and  occasionally  horse-hair  for  lining,  and  may  be 
found  in  open  fields,  usually  where  the  grass  is  short  ;  often  it  is 
placed  under  an  upturned  sod  or  beneath  a  tussock.  4  to  5  eggs 
are  laid  ;  they  are  white,  with  few  or  many  reddish  brown  spots, 
mostly  around  the  larger  end.  Size  —  .73  x  .56.  See  Fig.  14, 
Plate  B. 

The  Yellow-winged  Sparrow  spends  nearly  all  the  time  on 
the  ground,  running  through  the  grass,  and  only  taking  wing 
when  forced  to  do  so.  When  he  does  fly  he  gets  up  with  a 
great  deal  of  noise  for  so  small  a  bird,  and  takes  a  zig-zag  course 
during  his  short  flight,  which  is  seldom  more  than  a  few  yards. 

The  nesting  season  in  the  neighbourhood  of  New  York  begins 
about  the  middle  of  May.  In  Illinois  eggs  have  been  found  from 
April  20th  to  August  I2th.  Two  broods  are  reared  during  the 
season. 

547.  Henslow's  Sparrow:  Ammodramus  henslowii  (Aud.) 


dark  olive-green  ;  either  side  of  crown  black  ;  back 
warm  brown  ;  tail  feathers  sharply  pointed,  the  middle 
feathers  longest  ;  breast  buffy  with  black  streaks  ;  belly 
white  or  whitish;  yellow  at  bend  of  wing  and  in  front  of 
eye.  Length  —  5.00. 

This  bird  might  be  mistaken  for  the  yellow-winged  spar- 
row; its  darker  colour,  greenish  tone  on  back  of  head,  longer 
tail,  with  the  outside  feathers  the  shortest,  should  serve  to 
distinguish  it. 

Immature  birds  in  first  plumage  have  no  spots  on  the 
breast.  (Chapman.) 

44 


PLATE    B.-C 


n  Eggs. 


1.  Sharp-tailed  Sparro 

2.  Bobolink 

3.  Lark  Sparrow. 

4.  Song  Sparrow. 

5.  Field  Sparrow. 

6.  American  Redstart. 


7  White-throated  Sparrow. 

8.  B-own  Thrasher. 

9.  Nighthawk. 

iO.  Prairie  Horned  Lark. 

I  1.  Seaside  Sparrow. 


Cedar  Waxwing. 
Vesper  Sparrow. 
Grasshopper  Sparrow. 
Savanna  Sparrow. 
Prairie  Warbler. 
Bewick's  Wren. 


Open  Nests  on  the  Ground 

Breeding  Range — The  Eastern  States,  from  Virginia  to  Massachu- 
setts, "westward  to  the  edge  of  the  plains." 

The  nest  is  somewhat  roughly  built  of  coarse  grass,  placed 
on  the  ground  often  in  a  slight  depression,  or  close  against  a 
tussock  in  the  open  fields.  The  eggs,  j  to  5  in  number,  are 
white  or  nearly  white,  with  distinct  brown  and  purplish  spots, 
more  numerous  at  the  larger  end.  Size — .73  x  .56. 

This  shy  and  unobtrusive  sparrow  is  rather  difficult  to  find, 
owing  to  its  habit  of  remaining  in  the  thick  grass  unless  forced 
to  fly.  In  its  short,  jerky  flight  it  resembles  its  near  relation,  the 
yellow-winged  or  grasshopper  sparrow.  Generally  speaking,  it 
prefers  the  more  moist  fields  to  those  that  are  very  dry.  The 
nest,  as  in  the  case  of  other  birds  of  similar  habits,  is  well  and 
carefully  hidden  in  the  grass.  In  Illinois,  eggs  have  been 
found  as  early  as  April  2Oth  and  as  late  as  August  i2th.  Mr. 
Brewster  says  that  this  sparrow  breeds  commonly  but  very 
locally  in  the  eastern  part  of  Massachusetts,  quite  numerously  in 
portions  of  Worcester  Countv,  sparingly  and  locally  in  Berkshire 
County. 


549.    Sharp-tailed   Sparrow:  Ammodramus  caudacutus 
(Gmel.) 

Adult — Upper  parts  greenish  brown;  a  light  gray  line  through 
centre  of  crown,  which  is  brown  ;  bend  of  wing  light  yel- 
low ;  throat  and  belly  white  or  whitish  ;  breast  light  buffy 
brown  with  dark  streaks.  The  tail  feathers,  as  the  bird's 
name  implies,  are  very  sharply  pointed,  the  outer  feathers 
being  much  shorter  than  those  in  the  middle.  Length — 5.85. 

Breeding  Range — From  South  Carolina  along  the  coast  to  New 
Hampshire. 

The  nest  is  placed  on  the  ground  in  the  sedge  or  grass  in  or 
near  the  salt  marshes  ;  it  is  built  of  dry  sea- weed  and  grasses, 
fine  grasses  being  used  for  the  lining.  4  or  5  eggs  are  laid, 
usually  5;  they  are  white  or  whitish  with  numerous  fine  brown 
or  reddish  spots  chiefly  at  the  larger  end.  Size — .77  x  .55.  See 
Fig.  i,  Plate  B. 

The  Sharp-tailed  Sparrow  resembles  the  seaside  sparrow  in  its 
choice  of  locality,  being  found  always  near  the  salt  water,  choosing 
for  its  nesting  place  either  the  brackish  or  salt-water  swamps,  or 

45 


Open  Nests  on  the  Ground 

the  sandy  ground  near  the  swamps,  where  it  may  be  seen  running 
in  and  out  among  the  coarse  grass,  more  like  a  mouse  than  a  bird. 
Great  care  should  be  observed  in  identifying  the  nests,  as  they 
may  easily  be  mistaken  for  the  nests  of  the  seaside  sparrow,  both 
birds  generally  breeding  near  each  other  in  the  same  swamp. 
The  eggs  of  the  sharp-tailed  sparrow  are  somewhat  smaller  and 
more  finely  marked  ;  the  nest  is  usually  placed  where  it  is  rather 
drier  ;  it  is  also  more  bulky. 

The  breeding  season  lasts  from  May  to  late  July,  two  broods 
being  reared  during  that  period.  The  young  may  be  found  until 
well  into  August. 

55O.    Seaside  Sparrow:  Ammodramus  maritimus  (Wils.) 

Adult—  General  appearance  dusky  gray  ;  upper  parts  grayish  ;  tail 
•  brown  with  narrow,  sharply  pointed  feathers  ;  throat  and 
breast  gray,  slightly  streaked  with  darker  gray  ;  belly  white, 
shading  into  gray  at  sides  ;  light  yellow  patch  in  front  of  eye 
and  at  bend  of  wing  ;  the  toes  are  rather  long,  and  the  bill  is 
long  and  slightly  thicker  than  the  sharp-tailed  sparrow's, 
though  much  the  same  shape.  Length — 6.00. 

Breeding  Range — Along  the  Atlantic  coast  from  North  Carolina 
northward,  rarely  on  the  coast  of  Massachusetts. 

Nest,  resembling  closely  that  of  the  sharp-tailed  sparrow,  only 
not  so  bulky,  placed  on  the  ground  in  or  near  brackish  or  salt  water 
swamps,  built  of  reeds  and  grasses  lined  with  fine  grass.  Usually 
4  eggs  are  laid;  they  are  white  or  whitish,  finely  speckled  with 
light  reddish  brown  and  lilac.  Size — .80  x  .63.  See  Fig.  n, 
Plate  B. 

All  that  has  been  said  of  the  sharp-tailed  sparrow  applies 
equally  to  these  lovers  of  the  sea-coast.  In  exceptional  cases  the 
nests  are  said  to  be  found  arched  over. 


55Oa.    Scott's  Seaside  Sparrow:  A.  m.  peninsulae  Allen 

This  is  a  southern  sub-species  of  the  seaside  sparrow,  being 
found  from  the  more  northern  parts  of  Florida  on  the  Atlantic 
coast  to  South  Carolina,  and  on  the  Gulf  coast  from  Florida  to 
Texas.  The  most  noticeable  difference  is  in  the  dark  streaks  on 

46 


NEST    AND    EGGS   OF    FIELD    SPARROW   ON    GROUND    IN    FIELD    OF    DEAD    GRASS 


Open  Nests  on  the  Ground 

the  breast  and  sides,  which  are  much  more  sharply  defined  in  the 
southern  variety.  The  nesting  habits  are  described  as  being 
identical. 


552.    Lark  Sparrow:  Chondestes  grammacus  (Say) 

Adult—  Head  reddish  brown  with  a  whitish  line  through  crown 
and  over  the  eye  ;  upper  parts  ashy  brown  with  dark  streaks  ; 
tail  feathers  dark  brown  with  white  tips  ;  under  parts  white 
or  whitish,  a  black  line  on  either  side  of  throat,  and  a  black 
spot  on  breast.  Length — 6.25. 

Breeding  Range — "  Throughout  the  Mississippi  Valley,  from  east- 
ern Texas  and  Louisiana  on  the  south  to  Iowa  and  southern 
Michigan  on  the  north."  Accidental  on  the  Atlantic  coast. 

The  nest  is  usually  placed  on  the  ground  in  prairie  land  or 
pastures  ;  it  is  made  of  grasses,  twigs,  and  fine  roots,  lined  with 
hairs.  3  to  4,  and  not  more  than  5,  eggs  are  laid.  In  some  cases 
they  are  said  to  resemble  closely  the  eggs  of  the  Baltimore  oriole, 
though  as  a  rule  the  markings,  consisting  of  very  dark  brown  and 
lilac  scrawl-like  lines,  are  more  confined  to  the  larger  end  ;  the 
ground  colour  is  white,  sometimes  tinged  with  blue  or  buff.  Size — 
.80  x  .63.  See  Fig.  3,  Plate  B. 

The  Lark  Sparrow,  Lark  Finch,  Quailbird,  or  Road-bird,  as  he 
is  variously  named,  has  scarcely  the  right  to  be  called  a  resident 
of  the  Eastern  States,  being  but  an  occasional  visitor.  In  localities 
where  they  are  regular  residents  they  are  said  to  "  often  repair  the 
nests  of  the  mocking-bird  and  orchard  oriole  with  a  lining  of 
grass,  horse  hairs,  etc."  Their  eggs  have  also  been  found  "in 
the  nest  of  the  scissor-tailed  flycatcher,"  and  though  occasionally 
the  nest  is  built  in  bushes  or  even  trees,  it  is  usually  on  the 
ground.  The  breeding  season  lasts  from  May  to  July. 


558.    White-throated    Sparrow:     Zonotrichia     albicollis 
(Gmel.) 

Eggs  white,   tinged  with  either  blue  or  yellow,  with  fine 
marks  and  heavy  blotches  of  various  browns. 

See  Page  60,  Chapter  II. 
47 


Open  Nests  on  the  Ground 

563.    Field  Sparrow :  Spizella  pusilla  (Wils.) 

Adult—  Upper  parts  light  chestnut  brown,  finely  streaked  with 
brown  ;  under  parts  light  buff  shading  into  white  on  the 
belly  ;  bill  pinkish.  Length— 5.68. 

"Young  in  first  plumage  have  breast  streaked  with 
black."     (Chapman.) 

Breeding  Range — From  South  Carolina  to  Canada. 

The  nest,  which  is  placed  either  on  the  ground  or  in  low 
bushes,  is  built  of  grass,  fine  roots,  and  occasionally  leaves,  with 
the  lining  of  hair  or  fine  grass.  3  to  5  eggs  are  laid,  varying  con- 
siderably in  their  colour  and  markings  ;  some  eggs  have  the  ground 
colour,  which  is  white  or  greenish  white,  nearly  covered  with 
small  reddish  spots — rarely  blotches — while  others  have  scarcely 
any  spots.  Size— .70  x  .52.  See  Fig.  5,  Plate  B. 

These  delightful  little  sparrows  are  easily  recognised  by  the 
distinctive  reddish  or  coral-coloured  bill  and  by  the  long  light 
chestnut  tail.  They  lay  their  eggs  about  May  ist  near  New  York, 
laying  two  or  three  sets  during  the  season,  which  lasts  with  them 
until  late  July.  The  nests  may  be  found  in  the  open  fields,  in 
thickets,  and  sometimes  in  scrubby  clearings  ;  they  are,  as  a  rule, 
placed  on  the  ground,  or  in  a  tussock  of  either  green  or  dead 
grass.  In  some  places,  however,  they  are  most  often  to  be  found 
in  low  bushes.  While  on  the  nests  these  birds  are  usually  averse 
to  human  visitors  ;  they  glide  off  quietly  through  the  grass,  flying 
up  when  at  some  distance  to  a  bush  or  tall  weed,  where  they  give 
utterance  to  their  anxious  little  note  of  reproach.  Their  song, 
though  small  in  volume,  is  decidedly  sweet  in  tone  ;  it  may  be 
heard  most  often  in  the  early  hours  of  the  morning,  almost  before 
dawn,  or  late  in  the  afternoon  and  evening. 


567.    Snowbird;  Junco:  Junco  hyemalis  (Linn.) 

Eggs  greenish  or  bluish  white  with  fine  spots  and  some- 
times blotches  of  reddish  brown  and  lilac,  chiefly  in  a  wreath 
round  the  larger  end. 

See  Page6i,  Chapter  II. 
48 


SONG    SPARROW'S   NEST 


Open  Nests  on  the  Ground 

58 1 .    Song  Sparrow :  Melospiza  fasciata  (Gmel.) 

Adult—  Upper  parts  rich  brown  streaked  with  black,  the  head 
having  a  light  gray  line  in  the  centre,  either  side  of  the  crown 
being  brown  ;  throat  and  breast  light  gray,  with  brown 
marks  which  usually  form  an  irregular  blotch  on  the  breast. 
Length — 6.30. 

Breeding  Range — Throughout  the  Eastern  States.  "East  of  the 
Alleghanies,  it  breeds  from  South  Carolina  north  to  the  Brit- 
ish provinces." 

The  nest  varies  greatly  both  as  to  the  materials  used  in  its 
construction  and  to  where  it  is  placed  ;  sometimes  it  is  a  bulky 
structure  of  coarse  grass,  weeds,  leaves,  and  bark,  lined  with  hair, 
being  as  much  as  two  and  a  half  inches  deep  inside,  and  then 
again  it  may  be  a  flimsy,  shallow  affair  made  of  grass  and  lined 
with  fine  grass  ;  it  is  placed  on  the  ground,  in  open  fields  or  in 
woody  places,  or  it  is  sometimes  built  in  bushes  as  high  as  five 
feet  from  the  ground.  The  eggs  vary  greatly,  both  as  to  colour 
and  size,  ranging  from  .76  to  .85  in  length  and  from  .55  to  .60  in 
diameter  ;  the  ground  colour  is  white,  sometimes  tinged  with 
green  or  blue,  with  irregular  brownish  blotches  and  markings, 
which  in  some  cases  nearly  conceal  the  ground  colour.  See  Fig. 
4,  Plate  B. 

The  Song  Sparrow  shows  a  nature  of  such  extraordinary 
adaptability  to  all  sorts  of  conditions  that  in  this  one  respect  he 
proves  himself  to  be  a  remarkable  little  character — a  character  very  • 
well  worth  studying.  Everything  about  him  is  made  an'd  done 
with  apparently  but  little  regard  to  rules  of  any  kind.  Each  sea- 
son he  rears  an  indefinite  number  of  families,  ranging  from  one  to 
four.  The  nests  are  made  in  various  sizes,  of  various  materials, 
and  built  in  any  sort  of  place,  from  an  old  tin  can  to  a  hole  in  a 
tree,  but  usually  either  on  the  ground  or  in  a  bush  ;  if  on  the 
ground  it  may  be  in  a  fine  large  breezy  meadow,  where  the  ground 
is  dry,  or  on  the  top  of  a  tussock  in  a  swampy  thicket. 

The  time  for  singing  his  familiar  song  varies  greatly  both  as 
to  hour  and  season  ;  one  must  not  be  surprised  if  at  any  hour  of 
the  day  or  night  his  song  is  heard,  whether  it  be  on  a  bleak  March 
day  or  when  the  trees  have  taken  on  the. glories  of  the  rich  au- 
tumn colouring  ;  time  and  place  matter  but  little  to  this  happy 
songster.  Nesting  begins  about  May  ist. 

4  49 


Open  Nests  on  the  Ground 

583.    Lincoln's  Sparrow :   Melospiza  lincolni  (Aud.) 

Eggs  greenish  white  or  brownish  white  spotted  and  blotched 
with  lavender  and  chestnut  or  brown,  more  thickly  at  the  larger 
end. 

See  Page  62,  Chapter  II. 


6O4.    Dickcissel;  Black-throated  Bunting:  Spiza 
americana  (Gmel.) 

Adult  $  — Forehead  yellowish  ;  head  gray  ;  back  brownish,  dark 
streaked  ;  yellow  line  over  and  back  of  eye  and  on  side  of 
throat ;  throat  white  with  black  patch  ;  breast  yellow  shad- 
ing into  white  on  the  belly. 

Adult  $  — General  colour  duller,  with  black  patch  on  throat. 
Length — 6.00. 

Breeding  Range — "From  Texas  to  Minnesota"  (Recent  Eastern 
Records). 

The  nest  may  be  found  either  on  the  ground  in  open  fields 
and  prairies  or  in  bushes  or  trees  ;  it  is  built  of  "  leaves,  grasses, 
rootlets,  corn-husks,  and  weed  stems  ;  the  lining  is  of  fine  grass 
and  often  horse  hair."  3  to  5  pale  blue  eggs  are  laid.  Size — 
.80  x  .60. 

In  Iowa  the  nesting  season  begins  in  May,  continuing  until 
August. 


7O5.    Brown  Thrasher:   Harporhynchus  rufus  (Linn.) 

Adult — Upper  parts  bright  orange-brown  or  rufous  ;  under  parts 
white  with  black  spots  forming  longitudinal  streaks  ;  bill 
long  with  downward  curve  ;  the  tail  is  over  five  inches  long. 
Length — 11.42. 

Breeding  Range — From  the  Gulf  States  to  Canada. 

The  nest  is  placed  indiscriminately  on  the  ground  or  in  low 
bushes  ;  it  is  rather  bulky  and  roughly  made  of  twigs,  vine  ten- 
drils, roots,  bark,  and  leaves,  "lined  with  horse  hair  and  a  few 
feathers  "  (Davie).  Those  that  I  have  found  in  New  Jersey  were  in 
every  case  lined  with  fine  black  rootlets.  3  to  5  and  rarely  6  eggs 

So 


Open  Nests  on  the  Ground 

are  laid  ;  they  are  whitish,  bluish,  or  greenish,  with  numerous 
fine  light  brown  specks  evenly  distributed.  Size — 1.08  x  .80. 
See  Fig.  8,  Plate  B. 

The  Brown  Thrasher  is  also  known  under  the  names  of 
Ground  Thrush,  Brown  Thrush,  and  in  Virginia  he  is  known  as 
the  Sandy  Mocking-bird,  and  further  south  as  the  French  Mocking- 
bird. In  some  localities  they  prefer  bushes  and  thickets,  while 
in  others  they  build  almost  exclusively  on  the  ground.  My  own 
experience  has  been  that  most  of  the  nests  were  found  on  the 
ground,  near  tall  weeds,  in  an  open  field ;  very  few  were  in  bushes. 

While  on  the  nest  these  birds,  like  their  relatives  the  wrens, 
sit  very  close,  allowing  themselves  to  be  almost  caught,  but  once 
they  leave  the  nest  their  manner  changes  and  they  become  in- 
tensely noisy,  making  a  great  pretence  of  attacking  the  intruder, 
uttering  repeatedly  their  harsh,  scolding  note. 

During  the  very  early  hours  of  the  morning  or  late  in  the 
afternoon  the  brown  thrasher  may  be  seen  perched  on  the  top- 
most branch  of  a  tree,  singing  a  song,  full  and  rich  in  tone,  re- 
sembling somewhat  that  of  the  European  song  thrush. 

The  nesting  season  begins  about  the  second  week  in  May. 


Chapter  II 

OPEN  NESTS  IN  WOODS,  THICKETS,  SWAMPY 
THICKETS 

289.    Bob-white;  Quail:  Colinus  virginianus  (Linn.) 

White  eggs. 

See  Page  35,  Chapter  I. 

289a.    Florida     Quail :     Colinus    virginianus   floridanus 
(Coues) 

White  eggs. 

See  Page  36,  Chapter  I. 


298.    Canada  Grouse;   Spruce  Partridge:    Dendragapus 
canadensis  (Linn.) 

Adult  $ — General  colour  dark  grayish  brown  or  nearly  black, 
barred  on  the  back  ;  breast  mottled  with  whitish  and  buff, 
excepting  lower  part  of  breast,  which  is  black  tipped  with 
white.  Bright  red  skin  over  eye. 

Adult  $ — Upper  parts  lighter  than  in  the  $  .     Length — 15.00. 

Breeding  Range — The  more  northern  parts  of  New  England  and 
New  York,  northward. 

The  nest,  which  is  carefully  hidden,  generally  beneath  a 
low-lying  spruce  branch,  is  composed  of  leaves,  dry  ferns,  moss, 
twigs,  and  sometimes  weedy  grass,  placed  on  somewhat  swampy 
ground  in  the  dense  northern  forest.  The  eggs,  numbering  from 
8  to  1 6,  are  buff-coloured,  with  irregular  blotches  and  spots  of 
brown.  Size — 1.71  x  1.22. 

The  Canada  Grouse,  or  Spruce  Partridge  as  it  is  more  com- 
monly called,  is  an  inhabitant  of  the  dense  forest  region  of  the 
more  northern  parts  of  Maine  and  New  York  in  the  United  States, 

52 


NEST   AND    EGGS   OF   RUFFED    GROUSE 


Open  Nests  in  Woods,  Thickets,  Swampy  Thickets 

and  in  Canada  as  far  north  as  the  arctic  timber  line,  where  it  lives  a 
secluded  life  among  the  trees — spruce,  larches,  and  fir  trees  being 
its  favourites. 

As  a  game  bird  it  is  fairly  well  known,  though  its  extreme 
tameness  renders  it  by  no  means  an  exciting  quarry.  So  tame  is 
it  that  in  some  places  it  has  been  caught  by  means  of  a  noose 
attached  to  the  end  of  a  fishing-rod.  During  the  breeding  season 
this  bird  drums,  after  the  manner  of  the  ruffed  grouse. 

In  Maine  they  breed  in  May.     Incubation  occupies  17  days. 


3OO.    Ruffed  Grouse :  Bonasa  umbellus  (Linn.) 

Adult  $  — General  colour  yellowish  brown  or  rusty  ;  upper  parts 
mottled  with  black  and  gray  ;  under  parts  light  buff  to 
white  or  buffy  white  on  the  belly,  with  irregular  dark  mot- 
tled bars,  which  are  more  pronounced  on  the  breast  and  at 
the  sides  ;  on  either  side  of  the  neck  are  large  tufts  of  black 
feathers,  which  may  be  distended  at  will. 

Adult  $  — Somewhat  lighter  than  the  $ ,  and  with  very  small 
tufts  on  the  neck.  Length — 17.00. 

Breeding  Range — Throughout  the  Eastern  States,  from  the  higher 
regions  of  Georgia  northward. 

The  nest  is  on  the  ground,  usually  at  the  base  of  a  tree, 
sometimes  against  a  fallen  log  or  under  a  bush.  It  is  made  of 
dead  leaves  with  a  few  feathers,  and  is  either  very  shallow  or 
fully  five  inches  deep  inside.  From  8  to  14  and  rarely  16  eggs  are 
laid  ;  they  are  creamy  white,  often  much  stained,  and  sometimes 
speckled  with  brown.  Size — 1.56  x  1.13. 

Under  the  different  names  of  Ruffed  Grouse,  Pheasant,  and 
Partridge  this  bird  is  well  known  to  all  sportsmen  as  perhaps  the 
finest  of  our  Eastern  game  birds.  Its  extraordinary  habit  of 
drumming  has  been  the  cause  of  many  a  surprise,  and  even  of 
fright,  to  the  novice,  who,  not  knowing  whence  the  sound  pro- 
ceeded, has  attributed  it  to  all  sorts  of  wild  and  ferocious  animals. 
That  it  is  really  made  by  a  bird  is  hard  to  believe.  The  sound  is 
made  by  the  rapid  striking  of  the  wings  either  against  the  sides 
of  the  body  or  against  the  air  (this  is  a  much-disputed  question) 
while  the  bird  is  standing  on  a  fallen  tree  or  a  low  bush  ;  and 
though  this  is  the  mating  call,  it  may  be  heard  throughout  the 
shooting  season  in  Maine  and  probably  elsewhere. 

S3 


Open  Nests  in  Woods,  Thickets,  Swampy  Thickets 

The  nesting  season  in  the  neighbourhood  of  New  York  begins 
about  April  25th.  The  period  of  incubation  occupies  about  18 
days,  the  young  leaving  the  nest  as  soon  as  hatched,  and  after  a 
few  days  being  able  to  fly. 

When  the  old  bird  is  driven  from  her  nest  she  starts  off  with 
one  or  both  wings,  and  perhaps  a  leg,  apparently  broken,  and 
after  scrambling  on  the  ground  for  a  few  yards,  she  scales  along 
until  about  a  hundred  feet  away,  and  then  takes  flight.  If  she  is 
found  with  her  brood  of  chicks  she  acts  in  a  most  remarkable 
manner,  either  attacking  the  disturber  or  else  feigning  complete 
powerlessness,  thus  diverting  attention  long  enough  to  enable 
the  young  to  hide. 

Near  where  I  am  now  living  (South  Orange,  N.  J.)  the 
woodsmen  say  that  the  partridge  always  build  at  the  foot  of  a 
white  oak.  There  seems  to  be  some  truth  in  the  saying,  so  far 
as  this  immediate  neighbourhood  is  concerned,  as  all  the  nests  I 
have  seen  hereabouts  were  at  the  foot  of  white  oaks. 

3OOa.    Canadian  Ruffed  Grouse :  B.  u.  togata  (Linn.) 

This  is  a  sub-species  of  the  ruffed  grouse.  Its  grayish  instead 
of  buffy  or  rusty  colour  on  the  back,  and  the  bars  being  more  dis- 
tinct on  the  under  parts,  especially  on  the  belly,  are  the  chief 
points  of  variance. 

Breeding  Range — Northern  New  York,  Maine,  and  Vermont,  north- 
wards. 

These  birds  vary  greatly  in  colour;  in  some  instances  they 
may  be  mistaken  for  the  common  ruffed  grouse,  as  specimens 
showing  all  the  intermediate  gradations  of  colour  have  been 
taken. 

3O6.    Heath  Hen:  Tympanuchus  cupido  (Linn.) 

These  birds  bear  a  close  resemblance  to  the  prairie  hen,  the 
principal  difference  being  in  the  neck  tufts,  which  are  pointed 
instead  of  rounded.  Length — 18.00. 

Breeding  Range— Martha's  Vineyard. 

Nest  on  the  ground ;  eggs  brownish  drab  or  buff.  Size — 
1.73  x  1-29. 

54 


Open  Nests  in  Woods,  Thickets,  Swampy  Thickets 

The  Heath  Hen  is  almost  extinct,  being  restricted  to  the 
island  of  Martha's  Vineyard,  where  they  are  "in  imminent 
danger  of  total  extinction." 

31O.    Wild  Turkey:  Meleagris  gallopavo  Linn. 

Differing  in  some  degree  from  the  darker  varieties  of  the 
domestic  turkey,  the  smaller  wattles  and  the  dark  buff  or  chest- 
nut tip  to  the  tail  coverts  and  tail  are  characteristic  of  the  wild 
bird.  The  adult  male  is  very  much  larger  than  the  female,  weigh- 
ing usually  about  25  pounds,  and  sometimes  as  much  as  40 
pounds,  while  the  female  weighs  about  8  pounds.  Length  of 
adult  $ — 48.00. 

Breeding  Range — Canada  to  Florida ;  extinct  in  New  England. 

The  nest  is  built  on  the  ground  among  briars  and  thick 
weedy  places.  9  to  1 5  eggs  are  laid  (some  writers  putting  the 
number  as  high  as  24).  They  are  cream-coloured  with  fine  brown- 
ish-red spots.  Size — 2.55  x  i. 80. 

Unfortunately,  the  Wild  Turkey  is  becoming  so  scarce  that 
in  a  few  years'  time  it  will  be  a  rare  bird.  Laws  made  for  its 
preservation  were  adopted  too  late,  and  in  many  places  are  utterly 
disregarded,  which  means  that  the  birds  will  become  restricted 
to  inaccessible  places,  such  as  the  large  tracts  of  swampy  wood- 
land. It  has  never  been  my  good  fortune  to  find  a  wild  turkey's 
nest,  so  I  cannot  give  any  original  data  in  connection  with  their 
breeding  habits.  During  the  mating  season  each  male  fights  for 
the  possession  of  a  drove  of  hens,  varying  in  number  from  4  to 
about  8  or  even  more  ;  at  other  times  the  two  sexes  flock  to- 
gether, though  it  is  usual  for  the  very  old  gobblers  to  remain 
solitary.  Mr.  Davis  says  that  when  the  eggs  are  once  touched 
the  female  will  abandon  her  nest. 

31  Ob.    Florida  Wild  Turkey:  M.  g.  osceola  Scott. 

The  Florida  Wild  Turkey  varies  but  little  from  the  more 
northern  species,  being  somewhat  smaller,  darker  in  colour,  and 
has  irregular  white  markings  on  the  wings  in  place  of  the  wide 
white  bars. 

Breeding  Range — Southern  Florida. 

55 


Open  Nests  in  Woods,  Thickets,  Swampy  Thickets 

The  breeding  habits  are  described  as  almost  identical  with 
those  of  the  northern  wild  turkey. 

These  magnificent  birds  are  still  fairly  common  in  parts  of 
Florida,  though  much  less  so  than  they  were  a  few  years  ago. 
When  I  was  in  southern  Florida  in  1892  I  sometimes  saw  in  one 
day  as  many  as  seven  droves,  numbering  in  all  from  twenty-five  to 
forty  birds.  During  the  seventeen  days  I  camped  out  I  secured 
thirty-two  specimens  without  very  much  trouble.  This  was 
just  before  the  mating  season.  The  droves  contained  from  three 
to  nine  birds,  and  where  both  sexes  were  together  the  males 
were  usually  birds  of  the  previous  year.  The  older  males  were 
most  often  in  flocks  of  about  three,  with  no  hens  ;  the  very  old 
gobblers  were  invariably  solitary.  The  males  ranged  in  weight 
from  eight  pounds  (yearling  birds)  to  twenty-three  pounds.  The 
hens  weighed  rather  under  seven  and  a  half  pounds. 

316.    Mourning  Dove:  Zenaidura  macroura  (Linn.) 

Eggs  white. 

See  Page  i}},  Chapter  VIII. 

317.    Zenaida  Dove:  Zenaida  zenaida  (Bonap.) 

Eggs  white. 

See  Page  133,  Chapter  VIII. 

32O.    Ground  Dove;   Mourning  Dove:  Columbigallina 
passerina  terrestris  Chapm. 

Adult  $ — Various  shades  of  "dove  colour"  ;  breast  somewhat 
spotted  ;  iridescent  feathers  forward  of  the  shoulder  ;  bill 
red. 

Adult  ? — Grayer.     Length — 6.75. 

Breeding  Range— The  Gulf  States  and  Florida,  north  to  North 
Carolina. 

The  nest  is  a  flimsy  structure  of  twigs,  with  sometimes  straw 
or  pine  needles.  It  is  placed  either  on  the  ground  or  in  bushes, 
rarely  at  any  height  from  the  ground.  2  white  eggs  are  laid. 
Size — .85  x  .65. 

The  Ground  Dove  is  easily  recognised  from  its  size  alone,  it 
56 


Open  Nests  in  Woods,  Thickets,  Swampy  Thickets 

being  much  the  smallest  of  our  native  doves.  As  its  name  im- 
plies, it  spends  the  greater  part  of  its  time  on  the  ground,  where 
it  may  be  seen  moving  its  head,  while  walking  or  running,  after 
the  habit  of  the  domestic  pigeon. 

The  nests  are  usually  near  cultivated  land,  frequently  in 
abandoned  gardens  or  yards,  and  though  the  ground  is  perhaps 
the  favourite  place  for  building,  yet  bushes,  trees,  or  even  tree 
stumps  are  sometimes  chosen.  The  breeding  season  lasts  from 
April  to  July  ;  eggs  have  been  taken  as  late  as  October,  but  this 
is  probably  quite  exceptional. 


322.    Quail  Dove  :  Geotrygon  martinica  (Linn). 

Eggs  white  or  buffy  white. 

See  Page  133,  Chapter  VIII. 

325.    Turkey  Vulture;  Turkey  Buzzard:  Cathartes  aura 
(Linn.) 

Adult—  Black  tinged  with  brown  ;  head  and  neck  red,  bare  of 

feathers.     Length — About  30.00. 
Breeding  Range — From  New  Jersey  southward;  accidental  in  New 

England. 

The  eggs  are  laid  inside  a  hollow  log  or  stump,  or  on  the 
ground,  often  beneath  palmetto  or  small  bushes  in  fairly  open 
places,  or  among  rocks;  the  eggs  are  yellowish  or  grayish  white, 
splashed  with  chocolate  and  black,  chiefly  at  the  larger  end  ;  the 
number  varies  from  i  104.  Size — 2.75  x  1.90.  See  Fig.  i,  Plate  A. 

These  birds,  so  graceful  in  flight  yet  so  awkward  when  on 
the  ground,  are  perhaps  the  most  useful  of  the  southern  birds  ; 
as  they,  with  their  near  relatives,  the  black  vultures,  are  the  scav- 
engers that  leave  no  track  or  trace  of  anything  that  might  pollute 
the  air.  The  question,  on  which  so  much  has  been  written  and 
which  has,  I  believe,  never  been  satisfactorily  decided,  is  whether 
it  is  by  the  sense  of  smell  or  sight  that  these  birds  discover  the 
whereabouts  of  food ;  that  their  sight  is  wonderful  must  be  ad- 
mitted, while  their  power  of  smelling  does  not  appear  to  be  at  all 
remarkable.  It  is  scarcely  possible  that  a  bird  flying  at  a  height 
that  renders  him  scarcely  visible  to  the  naked  eye,  and  which 

57 


Open  Nests  in  Woods,  Thickets,  Swampy  Thickets 

must  be  at  least  several  thousand  feet,  should  be  able  to  get  the 
scent  of  anything  on  the  earth  while  the  wind  is  blowing  at  the 
rate  of  fifteen  or  twenty  miles  an  hour  ;  yet  when  I  have  skinned 
a  small  animal  and  thrown  down  the  body,  the  birds,  that  were 
seen  to  be  flying  at  an  immense  height,  immediately  descended 
and  attacked  the  carcass.  Another  time,  in  order  to  test  their 
olfactory  nerves,  I  took  an  alligator  that  had  been  dead  several 
days,  and  at  night  cut  it  in  half  ;  the  one-half  was  hidden  by  a 
piece  of  sacking.  These  two  pieces  were  placed  about  thirty  feet 
apart,  and  in  the  morning  both  black  vultures  and  turkey  vul- 
tures were  there  in  numbers.  After  finishing  the  exposed  half, 
they  jumped  about  after  their  usual  fashion  and  actually  stood 
upon  the  covered  portion,  but  its  presence  was  not  discovered  by 
them.  Surely,  if  they  had  such  a  highly  developed  sense  of  smell, 
they  would  not  have  acted  in  this  way. 

The  young  are  covered  with  white  down  for  some  time  after 
being  hatched,  and  if  handled  have  the  disagreeable  habit  of  dis- 
gorging offensive  matter  ;  so  it  is  advisable  to  leave  them  alone. 
The  breeding  season  begins  in  April. 


326.    Black  Vulture:  Catharista  atrata  (Bartr.) 

Adult—  Black  ;  the  head  and  neck  black,  and  bare  of  feathers. 
Breeding  Range— North  Carolina  and  the  lower  Mississippi  Valley, 
southward. 

The  nest,  of  which  there  is  but  a  trace,  is  placed  on  the 
ground  beneath  scrubby  growth,  in  hollow  prostrate  logs,  on 
stumps,  or  among  rocks.  2  or  3,  usually  2  eggs,  are  laid  ;  they 
vary  greatly  in  colour;  the  average  is  dull  white  or  pale  blue, 
rather  heavily  spotted  and  blotched  with  dark  brown  and  choco- 
late of  various  shades.  Size — 3.00  x  2.00. 

The  Black  Vulture  resembles  in  general  characteristics  its 
near  relation  the  turkey  buzzard,  but  it  is  not  as  common  inland. 
The  nesting  habits  of  both  species  are  very  similar.  These  birds 
usually  make  a  path  to  their  nests,  along  which  they  jump  in  an 
awkward  manner.  The  male  assists  in  the  tedious  duty  of  incu- 
bating, which  occupies  about  twenty-eight  or  thirty  days. 

The  breeding  season  commences  about  the  end  of  February 
or  the  beginning  of  March. 

58 


Open  Nests  in  Woods,  Thickets,  Swampy  Thickets 

416.    Chuck-will's-widow:    Antrostomus   carolinensis 

(Gmel.) 

Breeding  Range — From  Virginia  southward  ;  most  common  in 
Florida. 

This  is  a  variety  of  the  whip-poor-will  breeding  in  the 
warmer  parts  of  the  country.  In  general  appearance  it  is  much 
the  same,  being  somewhat  larger,  lighter  in  colour,  and  having 
hair-like  branches  to  the  bristles  at  the  base  of  the  bill.  Length 
— 12.00. 

The  eggs,  two  in  number,  are  placed  on  the  bare  ground  or 
on  leaves  in  thickets  or  woods.  They  are  white  or  buff,  mar- 
bled with  pale  brown  and  lilac  blotches  and  spots.  Size — 1.40 
x  i. oo.  See  Fig.  5,  Plate  A. 

One  of  the  most  peculiar  things  about  this  bird  is  its  habit  of 
carrying  its  eggs,  or  young,  from  place  to  place,  inside  its  enor- 
mous mouth.  In  its  habits  it  resembles  the  more  northern  spe- 
cies ;  the  notes  are  slightly  different,  having  one  more  syllable. 
The  nesting  season  begins  about  the  first  week  in  April. 

4 1  7.    Whip-poor-will :  Antrostomus  vocif erus  (Wils.) 

Adult  $  — The  general  colour  is  a  mixture  of  rich  browns,  buff, 
gray,  and  black,  with  a  white  or  whitish  band  below  the 
throat,  and  white  ends  to  the  three  outer  tail  feathers  ; 
mouth  very  large,  with  bristles  at  base  of  bill.  The  middle 
toe  is  toothed  on  the  inner  side. 

Adult  ?  — Has  the  white  replaced  by  cream  colour.    Length — 9.75. 

Breeding  Range — Throughout  the  northeastern  States. 

The  eggs  are  laid  on  the  ground,  generally  among  dry  leaves, 
with  no  pretence  of  a  nest.  The  ground  colour  is  creamy  white 
or  grayish,  with  dark  or  very  faint  lilac  and  brown  markings  and 
spots  ;  only  two  eggs  are  laid.  Size — 1. 18  x  .84. 

There  are  few  common  eggs  more  difficult  to  find  than  those 
of  the  Whip-poor-will.  The  bird  matches  to  perfection,  both  in 
colour  and  marking,  the  surroundings  chosen  for  the  nesting,  or 
I  should  perhaps  say  the  ground  on  which  the  eggs  are  depos- 
ited, there  being  no  nest.  The  eggs  also  are  decidedly  incon- 

59 


Open  Nests  in  Woods,  Thickets,  Swampy  Thickets 

spicuous.  The  place  generally  chosen  is  in  the  dark  woods, 
where  the  ground  is  thickly  strewn  with  dead  leaves.  The  birds 
look  like  large  bats  or  moths  as  they  glide  away  in  noiseless  flight 
among  the  trees,  to  perch  lengthways  on  a  horizontal  branch, 
becoming,  to  all  appearance,  part  of  the  bark.  In  order  to  find 
the  eggs,  it  is  advisable  to  use  a  dog  ;  otherwise  it  is  a  most  dis- 
couraging task.  As  the  birds  remove  the  eggs  if  they  have  been 
handled,  it  is  as  well  to  secure  them  at  the  time  of  finding, 
as  otherwise  they  may  have  disappeared  when  the  place  is  re- 
visited. The  young  are  said  to  "run  about  much  like  young 
partridge." 

In  New  Jersey  the  eggs  are  deposited  about  June  ist. 


558.    White-throated  Sparrow:   Zonotrichia  albicollis 
(Gmel.) 

Adult— Upper  parts  reddish  brown  streaked  with  black ;  head 
black  on  either  side  of  crown,  white  between  and  below  the 
streaks ;  throat  white  ;  yellow  between  bill  and  eye,  and  at 
bend  of  wing  ;  under  parts  gray. 

Immature — Breast  darker,  almost  spotted  ;  throat  whit- 
ish, with  two  undefined  lines  ;  the  white  on  the  head  re- 
placed by  a  grayish  colour.  Length — 6.74. 

Breeding  Range — From  northern  Michigan  and  northern  New 
York  and  northern  New  England,  northward. 

The  nest  is  usually  placed  on  the  ground  in  woodland,  or 
sometimes  in  open  pasture  land,  and  occasionally  built  in  a  bush 
or  among  the  branches  of  a  fallen  tree.  It  is  made  of  grasses, 
weeds,  fine  roots,  and  moss,  with  a  lining  of  fine  grass.  4  or 
5  eggs  are  laid  ;  they  have  the  ground  colour  varying  from  white 
to  bluish,  or  sometimes  yellowish  white,  with  fine  marks  and 
heavy  blotches  of  different  shades  of  brown.  Size — .79  x  .61  to 
.89  x  .64.  See  Fig.  7,  Plate  B. 

Next  to  the  white-crowned  sparrow,  the  Peabody-bird  or 
White-throated  Sparrow  is  the  handsomest  of  the  sparrows  that 
visit  our  Eastern  States,  but  he  is  known  to  most  of  us  only  as 
an  autumn  and  spring  visitor — ever  welcome  with  his  plaintive 
little  song. 

In  New  England  the  breeding  season  commences  about 
June  ist. 

60 


Open  Nests  in  Woods,  Thickets,  Swampy  Thickets 

567.    Snowbird;  Junco:  Junco  hyemalis  (Linn.) 

Adult  $  — Dark  slate  colour  with  slight  brownish  tinge,  except  the 
lower  part  of  breast  and  belly,  which,  together  with  the  outer 
tail  feathers,  is  white. 

Adult  ? — Is  less  decided  and  lighter  in  colour.  Length — 6.27. 
"Young  in  first  plumage  resemble  the  adults,  but  have  the 
upper  parts,  throat,  and  breast  streaked  with  black."  (Chap- 
man.) 

Breeding  Range — The  more  northern  parts  of  New  England,  New 
York,  and  Pennsylvania,  southward  along  the  Alleghanies  to 
Virginia. 

The  nest  may  be  found  among  the  roots  of  a  fallen  tree,  in 
crevices  of  banks,  or  in  bushes,  but  usually  it  is  on  the  ground  in 
a  tangle  of  undergrowth.  It  is  built  of  dry  grass  and  moss,  well 
lined  with  fine  grass  and  hair.  The  eggs  are  greenish  or  bluish 
white  with  fine  spots  and  sometimes  blotches  of  reddish  purple- 
brown  and  lilac,  chiefly  in  a  wreath  round  the  larger  end.  Size 
—.76  x  .56.  See  Fig.  14,  Plate  C. 

Most  of  us  have  met  this  quiet-coloured  bird,  but  only  when 
nearly  all  of  our  summer  birds  have  gone  to  warmer  climes  ;  he 
then  frequents  the  vicinity  of  dwellings,  spending  most  of  his 
time  either  on  the  roadside  or  in  places  where  he  can  find  the 
seeds  that  form  his  winter  food.  During  the  breeding  season  few 
of  us  are  fortunate  enough  to  see  him,  as  he  betakes  himself  to 
higher  altitudes  or  to  the  more  northern  parts  of  New  England. 
In  Ontario  the  Snowbird  is  said  to  begin  nesting  "the  first  week 
of  May,  and  nests  with  eggs  are  found  as  late  as  August."  Minot 
says  that  in  the  White  Mountains  they  lay  their  eggs  in  June. 


567e.    Carolina  Snowbird  or  Junco:   J.  h.    carolinensis 
Brewst. 

Resembles  the  common  snowbird,  but  is  slightly  larger  and 
is  without  the  brownish  tinge  to  the  slate  colour  of  the  head, 
breast,  and  back. 

Breeding  Range — The  southern  part  of  the  Alleghanies,  in  Virginia 
and  the  Carolinas. 

The  nest  is  described  as  being  similar  to  that  of  the  common 
61 


Open  Nests  in  Woods,  Thickets,  Swampy  Thickets 

snowbird,  but  larger,  and  built  of  coarser  materials  ;  the  eggs 
are  similar  but  larger. 

The  habits  during  the  breeding  season  do  not  differ  materi- 
ally from  those  of  the  preceding  species  ;  the  nests  being  found  in 
bushes,  trees,  on  the  ground  in  open  fields,  in  thickets,  and  in 
banks.  Two  sets  of  eggs  are  laid,  the  first  being  laid  in  May. 

575.    Pine-woods  Sparrow  :  Peucaea  aesti  valis  (Licht.) 


Adult—  Resembling  somewhat  the  field  sparrow  in  shape,  having 
the  tail  rather  long  ;  upper  parts  warm  brown  or  chestnut 
streaked  with  black,  the  individual  feathers  being  edged  with 
gray  ;  breast  ash-coloured,  occasionally  spotted  with  black  ; 
belly  white  or  whitish  ;  bend  of  wing  yellow  ;  the  outer  tail 
feathers  are  very  short.  Length  —  5.80. 

Breeding  Range—  Throughout  the  piney  woods  of  southern  Georgia 
and  Florida. 


The  nest  is  placed  on  the  ground  in  the  pine  woods,  amongst 
the  scrub  or  saw  palmetto;  it  is  a  compact  structure  of  fine  grass.es. 
3  to  4  white  eggs  are  laid  in  May  or  June.  Size — .72  x  .61. 

As  far  as  I  know,  not  a  great  deal  of  data  has  been  collected 
in  connection  with  the  breeding  habits  of  this  little  sparrow.  Its 
nest  is  difficult  to  find,  owing  to  the  vastness  of  the  area  of  suit- 
able country  and  to  the  fact  that  it  is  carefully  hidden  among  the 
palmetto,  which  in  itself  forms  an  adequate  protection.  Mr. 
Chapman  considers  the  song  of  this  bird  superior  to  that  of  any 
of  our  northern  sparrows. 

58 1 .    Song  Sparrow :  Melospiza  f asciata  (Gmel.) 

Eggs  white  tinged  with  green  or  blue,  with  irregular 
brownish  blotches. 

See  Page  49,  Chapter  I. 

583.    Lincoln's  Sparrow:  Melospiza  Hncolnii  (Aud.) 

'—  Upper  parts  grayish  brown  streaked  with  black  and 
darker  brown  ;  the  tail  has  short  outer  feathers  ;  under 
parts  gray  and  cream  colour  slightly  streaked  with  black, 
and  a  buff  band  on  breast,  which  should  serve  to  distinguish 
62 


Open  Nests  in  Woods,  Thickets,  Swampy  Thickets 

it  from  other  sparrows  of  somewhat  similar  appearance. 
Length— 5.75. 

Breeding  Range — Not  very  far  south  of  the  northern  border  of  the 
United  States,  and  in  the  high  mountain  regions  further 
south. 

These  nests,  which  are  not  very  often  seen,  are  placed  on  the 
ground,  much  after  the  manner  of  the  song  sparrow's  ;  they  are 
"  composed  entirely  of  grasses."  The  eggs,  3  to  5  in  number, 
are  greenish  white  or  brownish  white,  sported  and  blotched  with 
lavender  and  chestnut  or  brown,  more  thickly  so  at  the  larger 
end.  Size — .80  x  .59. 

The  habit  of  skulking  through  the  grass  or  bushes,  so  marked 
in  this  sparrow,  renders  him  inconspicuous,  and  consequently  he 
is  often  thought  to  be  much  less  common  than  he  really  is.  In 
Colorado  eggs  have  been  taken  in  June  and  July. 


584.    Swamp  Sparrow:  Melospiza  georgiana  (Lath.) 

Adult — Upper  parts  deep  chestnut  or  warm  brown  with  dark 
streaks  ;  lower  parts  ashy  gray  ;  throat  white  or  whitish 
gray.  Length — 5.89. 

Breeding  Range — The  northern  United  States,  northward. 

The  nest  is  placed  in  a  tussock  of  grass,  usually  in  a  swamp, 
marshy  thicket,  or  damp  meadow,  rarely  in  a  low  bush  ;  it  is 
made  of  grasses,  lined  with  fine  grass  and  sometimes  horse-hair. 
4  or  5  eggs  are  laid  ;  they  resemble  the  eggs  of  the  song  spar- 
row, but  are  more  broadly  and  less  distinctly  blotched  ;  they 
vary  greatly  in  their  markings,  which  are  chocolate  or  reddish 
brown,  the  ground  colour  being  white  slightly  tinged  with  green, 
yellow,  or  pinkish  brown.  Size — .80  x  .60.  See  Fig.  !=», 
Plate  C. 

The  Swamp  Sparrow  is  very  frequently  confused  with  its 
near  relation,  the  song  sparrow ;  the  duller  and  more  uniform 
colour  of  the  back,  the  absence  of  dark  streaks  on  the  under  parts, 
and  the  patch  on  the  breast  should  serve  to  distinguish  it.  The 
fact  that  it  flies  without  jerking  its  tail  is  also  worth  remember- 
ing. By  any  one  who  has  sufficient  perseverance  the  nest  may 
be  found  from  about  the  middle  of  May  ;  it  is  carefully  hidden  in 
the  rank  swamp  growth.  Two  sets  of  eggs  are  laid. 

63 


Open   Nests  in  Woods,  Thickets,  Swampy  Thickets 

587.    Towhee;  Chewink:  Pipilo  erythrophthalmus  (Linn.) 

Adult  $  —Head,  throat,  breast,  and  back  black  ;  tail  black  with 
white  tips  to  the  three  outer  feathers  ;  side  bright  chestnut ; 
belly  white  ;  the  eye  has  the  iris  red. 

Adult  $  — The  parts  that  in  the  male  are  black  are  replaced  by 
brown.  Length — 8.35.  "Young  in  first  plumage  have  the 
back  and  under  parts  streaked  with  black."  (Chapman.) 

Breeding  Range — Georgia,  northward  to  Canada,  westward  as  far 
as  eastern  Dakota. 

The  nest  is  rather  large  and  roughly  made  of  dead  leaves,  fine 
roots,  grass,  twigs,  grape-vine  bark  and  tendrils,  and  lined  with 
fine  grass  and  roots.  It  is  placed  on  the  ground  or  in  exceptional 
cases  in  bushes.  Damp  or  dry  woods,  sunny  slopes,  thickets,  or 
thick  grassy  clearings  may  be  chosen  for  the  nesting  place.  4  and 
sometimes  5  eggs  are  laid  ;  they  are  white,  or  white  tinged  with 
pink  or  blue,  speckled  and  rarely  blotched  with  brown,  chestnut, 
and  lilac,  chiefly  at  the  larger  end.  Size — .95  x  .72.  See  Fig.  8, 
Plate  C. 

These  birds,  so  spick  and  span  in  their  fine  plumage,  are 
conspicuous  only  by  their  peculiar  note,  which  sounds  something 
like  the  word  "chewink,"  pronounced  with  a  rising  inflection. 
They  may  be  seen  in  the  thickets  or  scrubby  woods  or  in  brush 
heaps,  ever  alert  and  on  the  move,  jumping  from  twig  to  twig, 
or  scratching  vigorously  among  the  dead  leaves,  creating  as  much 
bustle  and  disturbance  as  would  a  barn-yard  hen.  Their  nest  is 
so  arranged  that  it  is  exceedingly  difficult  to  find,  the  materials 
used  in  its  construction  corresponding  both  in  colour  and  texture 
with  the  immediate  surroundings.  When  near  their  home  the 
birds  are  silent,  unless  you  happen  to  find  and  disturb  the  nest, 
when  both  male  and  female  join  together  in  making  the  most 
piteous  cries.  The  eggs  are  laid  about  the  second  week  in  May ; 
probably  but  one  brood  is  reared.  Chewinks  are  also  known  as 
Ground  Robins  and  Jorees. 

587a.    White-eyed  Chewink:  P.  e.  alleni  Coues 
Breeding  Range— Florida  and  southeastern  part  of  South  Carolina. 

The  White-eyed  Towhee  differs  from  the  northern  bird  in 
being  somewhat  smaller,  in  having  only  two  instead  of  three  of 

64 


NEST   OF   THE   WORM-EATING    WARBLER    IN    A    BANK 


Open  Nests  in  Woods,  Thickets,  Swampy  Thickets 

the  tail  feathers  tipped  with  white,  and  in  having,  as,  the  name 
indicates,  the  iris  of  the  eye  nearly  white.     Length — 8.00. 

In  most  respects  the  habits  of  these  two  birds  are  very  simi- 
lar ;  the  nest  of  the  white-eyed  is  perhaps  more  frequently  built  in 
bushes,  and  pine  needles,  in  addition  to  the  other  materials,  are 
used  in  its -construction.  The  eggs  are  bluish  white,  unmarked, 
or  "thickly  speckled  with  pinkish-vinaceous  and  pearl  gray" 
(Davie). 

636.    Black  and  White  Warbler  or  Creeper:  Mniotilta 
varia  (Linn.) 

Adult  $  — Streaked  all  over  with  black  and  white,  except  middle 
of  belly,  which  is  white. 

Adult  ?  — Very  similar,  but  with  almost  imperceptible  brownish 
tinge.  Length — 5.30. 

Breeding  Range — Eastern  States,  from  Virginia  and  Kansas  north- 
ward. 

The  nests  are  built  on  the  ground  except  in  very  rare  in- 
stances, when  they  are  placed  in  holes  in  trees  (Minot).  The  ma- 
terial used  consists  of  leaves,  grass,  fine  roots,  and  thin  strips  of 
bark,  with  the  lining  of  hairs.  The  eggs,  3  to  5  in  number,  are 
white,  spotted  with  brown  and  purple,  most  of  the  spots  forming 
a  wreath  around  the  larger  end.  Size — .65  x. 55.  See  Fig.  17, 
Plate  C. 

It  is  impossible  to  confound  these  warblers  with  any  other 
of  their  family ;  the  colour  alone  is  quite  distinctive,  as  also  is  their 
method  of  creeping  along  the  tree  trunks  or  branches.  This  is 
done  by  no  other  warbler,  except  to  a  very  limited  extent  by  the 
worm-eating.  The  nuthatches  and  brown  creeper  also  "  creep," 
but  with  these  there  is  no  chance  of  confusion.  The  nests  are 
carefully  concealed,  generally  at  the  foot  of  a  tree,  under  a  log  or 
projecting  stone,  in  thickly  wooded  places.  The  eggs  are  laid 
about  the  third  week  in  May. 

639.    Worm-eating  Warbler:  Helmintherus  vermivorus 
(Gmel.) 

Adult — Buff  line  through  centre  of  crown  and  above  the  eye, 
black  lines  on  either  side  of  crown  and  back  of  eye  ;  upper 
parts  greenish  buff  ;  under  parts  buff.  Length — 5.51. 

5  65 


Open  Nests  in  Woods,  Thickets,  Swampy  Thickets 

Breeding  Range — Eastern  States,  from    southern  New  England 
southward. 

The  nest  is  composed  of  leaves,  weed  stems,  strips  of  bark, 
lined  with  fine  roots  and  occasionally  hair  ;  it  is  placed  on  the 
ground  at  the  foot  of  a  tree,  under  a  log  or  in  a  slight  depression 
or  hole  in  a  bank.  Usually  it  is  in  hilly  woodland,  but  some- 
times a  more  open  place  is  chosen.  The  eggs,  3  to  5  in  number, 
are  white  or  pinkish  white,  with  fine  spots  of  cinnamon  and 
purplish  brown,  chiefly  at  the  larger  end.  Size— .72  x  .58. 

Should  you  happen  to  venture  at  all  near  to  the  nest  of  the 
Worm-eating  Warbler,  she  will  tell  you  of  its  proximity  by  falling 
on  the  ground  with  seemingly  broken  wings,  and  apparently  on 
the  verge  of  death  from  some  unknown  cause  ;  she  will  even  roll 
over  and  over  down  the  side  of  a  hill  while  in  this  condition,  in 
the  hope  of  luring  you  away  from  her  home,  which  is  usually 
concealed  with  the  utmost  care.  When  on  the  nest  the  parent 
bird  will  almost  allow  herself  to  be  caught,  so  close  does  she  sit. 
As  a  rule,  these  warblers  live  and  feed  on  or  very  near  the 
ground,  most  frequently  in  damp  woods  or  thickets,  but  I  have 
seen  them  creeping  along  the  overhanging  branches  somewhat 
after  the  manner  of  the  black-and-white  creeper.  I  do  not,  how- 
ever, think  this  is  a  common  habit,  as  I  have  seldom  seen  it  done. 
The  nesting  season  commences  towards  the  end  of  May  in  the 
vicinity  of  New  York. 


641.    Blue-Winged  Warbler:    Helminthophila  pinus 
(Linn.) 

Adult  5  — Upper  parts  light  olive  green  ;  wings  and  tail  bluish  ; 

wing  shows  two    broken  white  bars  ;   crown  and  under 

parts  brilliant  yellow.     The  black  line  in  front  and  back  of 

the  eye  is  a  distinctive  feature. 
Adult^ — Under  parts  somewhat  less  bright.   Length — 4.80.   The 

young  in  first  plumage  are  nearly  as  bright  as  the  adult  ?  . 
Breeding  Range — Eastern  States,  from  Connecticut  and  southern 

New  York  southward. 

The  nest  is  placed  on  the  ground  in  clearings,  scrubby 
places,  and  in  the  undergrowth  of  woodland  or  second  growth. 
It  varies  greatly,  being  sometimes  a  very  rough  structure  of 

66 


NEST   OF    BLUE-WINGED   WARBLER    ON    GROUND    IN    DAMP    SCRUB 


Open  Nests  in  Woods,  Thickets,  Swampy  Thickets 

coarse  grass,  weeds,  leaves,  bark,  and  tendrils,  and  sometimes  a 
compact  and  well-made  nest  of  the  same  materials.  to  6  eggs 
are  laid  ;  they  are  white,  with  very  few  spots  of  brownish  red, 
except  round  the  larger  end,  where  they  are  more  numerous. 
Size — .62  x  .51. 

Although  in  some  places  this  warbler  is  very  common,  the 
nest  is  always  hard  to  find.  I  have  seen  as  many  as  twenty 
pairs  of  these  birds  in  a  day  during  the  breeding  season,  and  yet 
not  one  nest  could  I  find.  When  the  young  are  hatched  it  is,  of 
course,  much  more  easy  to  find  the  nest,  as  the  female  may  then 
be  seen  carrying  food  to  them.  As  far  as  I  have  been  able  to 
ascertain  by  observation,  the  female  alone  supplies  the  young 
with  food,  the  male  usually  accompanying  her  until  within  a 
short  distance  of  the  nest,  or  even  to  the  nest  itself,  but  I  have 
never  seen  him  carry  food.  When  these  birds  are  seen  to  be 
very  much  excited  there  is  every  reason  for  believing  that  the 
young,  which  in  all  probability  have  very  recently  left  the  nest, 
are  not  far  away  ;  they  may  easily  be  found,  as  the  parent  birds 
(both  male  and  female  take  part  in  feeding  the  young  after  they 
have  left  the  nest)  feed  them  constantly.  Near  New  York  nest- 
ing begins  about  the  third  week  in  May. 

642.    Golden-winged  Warbler:   Helminthophila 
chrysoptera  (Linn.) 

Adult  $  — Head  :  Crown  bright  yellow  ;  a  white  line  over  the 
eye,  then  comes  a  broad  black  line,  level  with  and  below 
the  eye,  then  a  wide  white  line  on  either  side  of  the  throat, 
which  is  black  ;  upper  parts  grayish  ;  wings  bluish  gray, 
with  yellow  patch  ;  breast  and  belly  white,  shading  into 
gray  at  the  sides. 

Adults  — Duller  in  colour,  dark  gray  taking  the  place  of  the  black. 
Length — 5. 10. 

Breeding  Range — "  Georgia,  North  and  South  Carolina"  in  the 
more  elevated  parts,  northward  to  the  more  southern  parts 
of  New  England,  also  in  "Minnesota,  Wisconsin,  and  Mich- 
igan, and  is  a  rather  common  summer  resident  of  Ohio." 

The  nest  may  be  found  either  on  the  ground  or  in  low 
bushes,  usually  the  former  ;  it  is  built  of  grass,  strips  of  bark,  fine 
roots,  and  leaves — the  leaves  being  generally  outside  and  under- 
neath ;  lining  of  fine  grass.  The  eggs,  4  to  6  in  number,  are 

67 


Open  Nests  in  Woods,  Thickets,  Swampy  Thickets 

white  with  brownish  and  lilac  spots,  mostly  at  the  larger  end, 
where  they  form  an  irregular  wreath.  Size — .62  x  .48. 

Golden-winged  Warblers  generally  choose  rather  damp 
places  for  their  nests,  something  after  the  manner  of  the  Maryland 
yellow-throats  or  blue-winged  warblers  ;  second-growth  clear- 
ings and  such  like  scrubby  places  suit  their  fancy. 

Intergradations  between  the  golden-winged  warbler  and 
blue-winged  warbler  are  considered  hybrids,  and  are  known  as 
Brewster's  warbler  (Helminthophila  leucobronchialis  [Brewst.]) 
and  Lawrence's  warbler  (Helminthophila  lawrencei  [Herrick]). 

645.    Nashville  Warbler:  Helminthophila  ruficapilla 
(Wils.) 

Adult—  Head  bluish  gray  with  chestnut  patch  on  crown  ;  rest  of 
upper  parts  light  olive  green  ;  under  parts  light  yellow  ;  no 
white  on  any  part.  Length — 4.77. 

Breeding  Range — Throughout  the  Northern  States,  from  northern 
Illinois  to  Long  Island,  northward. 

The  nest  is  composed  of  leaves,  strips  of  bark,  moss,  fine 
roots,  lined  with  fine  grass  and  often  hair  ;  sometimes  pine 
needles  are  used  almost  exclusively.  It  is  placed  on  the  ground 
in  open  woods,  in  second-growth  woods,  and  in  shrubbery.  The 
eggs  are  white,  thinly  or  thickly  speckled,  mostly  at  the  larger 
end,  rarely  blotched,  with  cinnamon  brown  and  lilac.  3  to  5  are 
laid.  Size — .63  x  .48. 

In  Massachusetts  the  nesting  season  begins  "about  the  first 
of  June." 

675.    Water-thrush  :  Seiurus  noveboracensis  (Gmel.) 

Eggs  white  with  rather  large  spots  or  markings  of  cinna- 
mon brown  or  hazel,  more  thickly  distributed  about  the  larger 
end. 

See  Page  91,  Chapter  V. 

675a.    Grinnell's  Water-thrush :  S.  n.  notabilis  (Ridgw.) 
Eggs  identical  with  those  of  the  water-thrush. 

See  Page  9 1,  Chapter  V. 
68 


NEST    OF    MARYLAND    YELLOW-THROAT. 
In  Raspberry  patch. 


Open  Nests  in  Woods,  Thickets,  Swampy  Thickets 


676.    Louisiana  Water-thrush :  Seiurus  motacilla(Vieill.) 

Eggs  creamy  white  with  numerous  spots  and  specks  of 
chestnut  and  lilac. 

See  page  92,  Chapter  V. 

677.    Kentucky  Warbler:   Geothlypis  formosa  (Wils.) 

Adult  $  — Upper  parts  light  olive  green,  except  the  crown,  which 
is  black  ;  from  the  bill,  over  and  back  of  the  eye,  is  a  thin, 
yellow  line  ;  below  it  there  is  a  black  patch,  which  narrows 
below  the  cheek,  then  again  becoming  slightly  wider  ; 
under  parts  bright  yellow. 

Adult  $  —Colours  rather  less  brilliant.     Length — 5.40. 

Breeding  Range — Throughout  the  Eastern  States,  from  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico  to  Illinois  and  Connecticut. 

The  nest  is  placed  on  the  ground  or  among  the  roots  of  a 
fallen  tree,  usually  in  woods  that  are  more  or  less  damp  ;  it  is  a 
large  structure  of  leaves  (mostly  on  the  outside),  grasses,  and  fine 
roots,  lined  with  fine  roots  and  sometimes  hair.  The  eggs,  num- 
bering from  4  to  5,  "rarely  6,"  are  white,  spotted  or  blotched, 
more  so  at  the  larger  end,  with  varying  shades  of  brown  and 
gray.  Size— .73  x  .57. 

This  bird  may  be  easily  mistaken  by  the  novice  for  the  Mary- 
land yellow-throat,  being  about  the  same  size  and  colour  ;  the 
black  crown  and  the  light  yellow  line  over  the  eye,  together  with 
the  fact  that  it  walks,  should  serve  to  identify  it.  Near  New  York 
the  eggs  are  laid  about  the  end  of  May,  in  Kansas  about  ten 
days  earlier. 

679.    Mourning  Warbler:  Geothlypis  Philadelphia  (Wils.) 

Eggs  white,  with  reddish-brown  spots  at  the  larger  end. 
See  Page  164,  Chapter  VIII. 

681.    Maryland  Yellow-throat:  Geothlypis  trichas  (Linn.) 

Adult  $  — Upper  parts  brownish  olive  green  ;  forehead,  cheeks, 
and  side  of  throat  black,  with  a  light  grayish  edge  back  of 
it ;  breast,  throat,  and  sides  bright  yellow  ;  belly  grayish 
white. 

69 


Open  Nests  in  Woods,  Thickets,  Swampy  Thickets 

Adult  $  —Plumage  duller  and  without  the  black  patch  ;  the  sides 
yellowish  brown,  shading  into  grayish  white  on  the  belly. 
Length— 5.33. 

Breeding  Range — Throughout  the  Eastern  States,  from  Georgia 
northward  ;  westward  to  the  plains. 

The  nests  are  usually  placed  on  the  ground ;  they  are  also 
built  in  low  bushes,  in  almost  any  kind  of  place;  they  vary  greatly 
both  in  size,  shape,  and  in  the  materials  used  in  their  construction ; 
they  may  be  made  of  nothing  but  fine  grass,  very  shallow,  re- 
sembling the  nest  of  the  field  sparrow,  or  they  may  be  very 
bulky,  being  as  much  as  six  inches  high,  outside  measurement, 
and  made  of  weeds,  strips  of  bark,  tendrils,  grass,  and  leaves, 
the  leaves  only  on  the  outside,  with  the  lining  of  fine  grass  and 
hair.  Some  of  the  nests  are  made  entirely  of  reeds  and  other 
coarse  grass.  The  eggs  are  white  with  fine  specks  or  spots  of 
chocolate  and  purple,  brown  and  lilac;  the  spots  are  not  very 
numerous,  and  are  mostly  at  the  larger  end.  Usually  the  num- 
ber of  eggs  is  4,  sometimes  5  and  rarely  6.  Size — .70  x  .53. 
See  Fig.  16,  Plate  C. 

The  Maryland  Yellow-throat  is  perhaps  the  most  common  of 
our  warblers  during  the  breeding  season ;  he  may  be  found  in 
almost  any  thicket,  but  he  undoubtedly  prefers  places  that  are 
damp  or  even  marshy.  Wherever  he  is,  he  will  be  found  very 
much  in  evidence,  being  of  an  inquisitive  nature  and  ever  on  the 
move,  hopping  about  among  the  grass  or,  more  often,  in  a  tangle 
of  low  bushes. 

The  nest  is  described  as  difficult  to  find.  Why,  I  do  not  quite 
understand ;  it  seems  much  more  easy  to  find  than  most  of  the 
other  ground  nests,  unless  it  happens  to  be  arched  over,  but  that 
is  rare.  I  have  found  the  nests  in  raspberry  vines,  as  shown  in  the 
accompanying  illustration,  but  they  are  more  often  found  in  damp, 
grassy  tangles.  The  young  leave  the  nest  when  about  five  days 
old. 

68 Ib.    Florida  Yellow-throat:  G.  t.  ignota  Chapm. 

This  bird  is  very  similar  to  the  preceding.  The  bill,  tail, 
and  wing  are  longer,  upper  parts  much  browner,  the  black 
patch  larger,  and  the  yellow  rather  deeper  in  colour  on  the  under 
parts.  It  is  resident  in  the  southern  parts  of  Georgia  and  in 

70 


NEST    AND    EGGS    OF    MARYLAND    YELLOW-THROAT 


Open  Nests  in  Woods,  Thickets,  Swampy  Thickets 

Florida.  Nesting  habits  are  described  as  being  identical  with 
those  of  the  more  northern  bird.  It  is  also  known  as  the  Palmetto 
Bird. 

686.    Canadian  Warbler:  Sylvania  canadensis  (Linn.) 

Eggs  creamy  white,  spotted  chiefly  at  the  larger  end  with 
reddish  brown  and  lilac. 

See  Page  92,  Chapter  V. 


7O5.    Brown  Thrasher:  Harporhynchus  rufus  (Linn.) 

Eggs  whitish,  bluish,  or  greenish,  with  numerous  fine  light 
reddish-brown  specks  evenly  distributed. 

See  Page  50,  Chapter  I. 

756.  Wilson's  Thrush;  Veery:  Turdus  fuscescens  Steph. 

Adult — Upper  parts  reddish  or  golden  brown;  under  parts  white 
or  grayish  white,  except  the  breast,  which  is  tinged  with 
buff  and  spotted  with  brown.  Length — 7.52. 

Breeding  Range — "From  northern  Illinois  and  Pennsylvania  to 
Manitoba  and  Newfoundland,  and  southward  along  the 
Alleghanies  to  North  Carolina."  (Chapman.) 

The  nest  is  most  commonly  placed  on  the  ground,  or  among 
the  roots  of  a  fallen  tree,  rarely  in  bushes,  and  they  "  have  been 
found  in  hollow  trunks  of  trees  fifteen  feet  from  ground  "  (Davie). 
It  is  generally  a  well-made  structure  about  three  inches  in  diam- 
eter by  two  and  a  half  deep  inside,  and  as  much  as  five  or  six 
inches  deep  outside.  The  materials  used  in  its  construction  are 
principally  leaves  and  skeleton  leaves,  also  weeds,  fern  stalks, 
reeds,  and  fine  roots,  the  inside  being  lined  with  leaves  and 
fine  black  roots.  3  to  5  eggs  are  laid,  3  being  perhaps  the  most 
common  number.  They  are  pale  greenish  blue,  somewhat 
darker  than  a  robin's  eggs.  Size — .87  x  .64.  See  Fig.  1 1,  Plate  C. 

The  Wilson's  Thrush  confines  himself  chiefly  to  the  low, 
damp  woods,  where,  in  some  places,  they  are  very  abundant. 
Their  choice  of  residence,  however,  renders  them  almost  un- 
known, except  to  people  who  are  directly  interested  in  birds. 
In  appearance  they  may  be  said  to  resemble  a  very  dull-coloured 


Open  Nests  in  Woods,  Thickets,  Swampy  Thickets 

wood  thrush  without  the  bright  rufous  tail,  and  the  markings 
on  the  breast  are  not  nearly  so  conspicuous.  Their  note  is  very 
peculiar,  sounding  almost  like  the  sharpening  of  a  scythe  ,with  a 
whetstone.  It  is  a  sound  that  cannot  be  confounded  with  any 
other  bird's  note.  The  place  chosen  for  nesting  is  on  the  ground 
in  the  damp  woods,  not  far  from  water  as  a  rule.  The  nest  is 
very  often  built  at  the  foot  of  a  sapling,  or  between  the  stems  of 
a  bush,  or  on  a  mound  of  moss  and  grass,  and  not  infrequently 
in  dry  clearings  with  shrubby  undergrowth.  I  have  never  found 
a  nest  in  a  bush,  but  I  am  told  that  such  places  are  sometimes, 
though  rarely,  chosen.  From  my  experience  with  these  denizens 
of  the  dark,  wet  woods  I  should  be  inclined  to  believe  they  have 
but  scanty  confidence  in  man.  I  have  tried  repeatedly,  and  in 
vain,  to  secure  a  photograph  of  the  sitting  bird.  The  eggs  are 
laid  about  the  third  week  in  May. 


759b.    Hermit  Thrush :  Turdus  aonalaschkae   pallasii 

(Cab.) 

Adult— Upper  parts  dusky  olive  brown ;  tail  bright  rufous ;  under 
parts  white  or  whitish,  tinged  on  the  breast  with  buff,  and 
marked  with  large  dark  spots.  Length — 7.17. 

Breeding  Range — From  Michigan  and  northern  New  England 
(including  northwestern  Connecticut),  the  higher  regions  of 
New  York,  northward. 

The  nest  is  always  on  the  ground,  generally  in  damp,  woody 
places  or  on  shrubby  slopes.  It  resembles  the  nest  of  the  Wil- 
son's thrush,  but  is  rather  larger,  and  pine  needles  and  moss,  as 
well  as  leaves,  roots,  weeds,  etc.,  are  used  in  its  construction. 
3  or  4  eggs  are  laid ;  they  are  plain  bluish  green ;  in  very  rare  cases 
they  are  said  to  be  spotted.  Size — .88  x  .69. 

These  birds  well  deserve  the  name  given  them,  for  their  usually 
solitary  habits  are  truly  hermit-like.  In  the  deep,  dark  forests, 
where  all  is  hushed  and  quiet,  the  sweet  sympathetic  notes  of 
this  famous  songster  may  be  heard;  few  other  birds  are  there  to 
join  with  him  in  his  song  to  the  woods. 

The  Hermit  Thrush  need  never  be  mistaken  for  any  other  of 
the  thrush  family  ;  his  rufous  tail  and  brownish  back  are  entirely 
distinctive.  In  northern  New  England  the  nesting  season  com- 
mences towards  the  end  of  May. 

72 


NEST    OF   WILSON'S   THRUSH. 
Placed  on  a  mound  of  moss-covered  earth. 


Chapter    III 

COVERED  OR  ARCHED    NESTS  ON   GROUND 

PART   I.— IN   OPEN   COUNTRY 

289.    Bob-white;  Quail:  Colinus  virginianus  (Linn.) 

Eggs  white;  nest  rarely  and  but  roughly  arched. 
See  Page  35,  Chapter  I. 

5O1.    Meadowlark  :  Sturnella  magna  (Linn.) 

Adult—  Summer  plumage:  Back  and  head  warm  lightish  brown, 
marked  with  black  and  brown;  yellow  line  from  the  bill 
over  the  eye,  dark  brown  line  from  eye  to  back  of  neck; 
throat  and  breast  bright  yellow,  with  black  crescent  on 
breast  beginning  above  bend  of  wing ;  tail — outside  feathers 
white  or  partly  white,  middle  feathers  light  brown  with  dark 
transverse  markings.  The  winter  plumage  is  much  less 
brilliant.  Length — 10.75. 

Breeding  Range — Throughout  the  Eastern  States. 

The  nest  is  built  on  the  ground  in  open  fields,  generally 
where  there  is  high  grass  or  young  grain.  It  is  formed  of  grass 
and  is  frequently  arched  or  partly  so. 

The  eggs,  varying  from  4  to  6  in  number,  are  white,  speckled 
chiefly  at  the  larger  end  with  reddish  brown  and  lilac.  Size — 
1. 1  ox.  80.  See  Fig.  7,  Plate  C. 

The  Meadowlark's  nest  is  not  easy  to  find,  even  where  the 
birds  are  plentiful,  and  unless  the  old  bird  is  seen  to  rise  from  it, 
and  the  place  is  then  very  carefully  marked,  many  weary  miles 
may  be  walked  through  grassy  fields  without  a  nest  being  dis- 
covered. Built  entirely  of  grass,  and  placed  in  a  tuft  of  tall  grass 
or  grain,  it  is  difficult  to  see  even  when  the  nest  is  an  open  one, 

73 


Covered  or  Arched  Nests  on  Ground 

but  when  arched  or  covered,  and  with  a  winding  hidden  passage 
leading  to  the  opening,  which  is  on  the  side,  it  is  decidedly 
inconspicuous. 

In  the  neighbourhood  of  New  York  the  breeding  season 
begins  early  in  May. 

546.    Yellow-winged  or  Grasshopper  Sparrow:  Ammo- 
dramus  savannarum  passerinus  (Wils.) 

Eggs  white  or  whitish,  finely  spotted  with  reddish  brown. 
See  Page  44,  Chapter  I. 

55O.    Sea-side  Sparrow :  Ammodramus  maritimus  (Wils.) 

Eggs  white  or  whitish,  finely  speckled  with  light  reddish 
brown  and  lilac. 

See  Page  46,  Chapter  I. 

575.    Pine-woods  Sparrow  :    Peucaea  aestivalis  (Licht.) 

Eggs  pure  white. 

See  Page  62,  Chapter  II. 


PART  II.— ARCHED  NESTS  IN  WOODS  OR  THICKETS 

575a.    Bachman's  Sparrow:    Peucaea  aestivalis  bach  man  i 
(Aud.) 

Adult — Upper  parts  rufous  with  dark  streaks;  lower  parts  light 
brownish  buff;  warm  gray  or  buff  line  over  eye;  yellow  at 
bend  of  wing;  the  tail  has  the  outer  feathers  the  shortest. 
Length — 5.75. 

Breeding  Range — The  Southern  States,  from  Kentucky  and  North 
Carolina,  and  southern  Illinois,  southward. 

The  nests  in  all  probability  are  invariably  arched  or  roofed, 
with  the  opening  well  hidden  on  the  side;  grass  alone  is  used  in 
their  construction,  with  the  grass  tops  for  lining.  The  eggs  are 
white,  3  to  4  in  number.  Size — .75  x  .60. 

This  sparrow  resembles  closely  the  pine-woods  sparrow, 
but  it  has  no  spots  on  the  under  parts,  and  few,  sometimes  none 
at  all,  on  the  back.  Its  habits  are  terrestrial. 

74 


Covered  or  Arched  Nests  on  Ground 

The  places  chosen  for  nesting  are  the  pine  or  oak  woods, 
or  scrubby  open  ground,  seldom  far  from  trees.  The  nests 
are  very  difficult  to  find,  owing  not  only  to  the  fact  that  they  are 
carefully  covered,  but  the  bird,  instead  of  flying  up  directly  from 
the  nest,  runs  along  the  ground  for  some  distance  before  taking 
flight.  From  April  to  July  nests  may  be  found. 


674.    Golden-crowned  Thrush;    Oven-bird:   Seiurus 
aurocapillus  (Linn.) 

Adult — Upper  parts  brownish  olive;  crown  dull  orange  with 
dark  line  on  either  side;  under  parts  white,  slightly  tinged 
with  yellow,  with  numerous  dark  spots  forming  lines  from 
the  throat  downwards.  Length — 6. 17. 

Breeding  Range — From  Virginia  and  Kentucky  northward,  and 
in  the  higher  regions  of  the  Carolinas. 

The  arched  or  domed  nest  is  formed  of  dead  leaves,  skeleton 
leaves,  and  roots,  with  the  lining  mostly  of  fine  hair-like  roots, 
and  sometimes  hair;  the  opening  is  at  the  side,  and  is  fairly  large, 
about  three  inches  high;  the  nest  is  placed  among  dead  leaves, 
either  on  a  bank  or  on  the  level  ground  in  dry  woods.  The  eggs 
vary  in  number  from  3  to  6,  sets  of  5  being  the  most  common; 
they  are  pinkish  white,  with  either  few  or  many  fine  specks  of 
light  chocolate  colour  or  sometimes  blotches  of  reddish  or  lilac, 
chiefly  at  the  larger  end.  Size — .78  x  .58.  See  Fig.  12,  Plate  C. 

This  thrush-like  warbler  may  be  found  throughout  our 
woods — perhaps  the  most  common  of  the  woodland  birds,  and 
certainly  the  one  most  frequently  seen  during  the  earlier  part 
of  the  breeding  season;  he  is  easily  identified  by  his  size, 
being  much  smaller  than  any  of  the  thrushes  except  Bicknell's 
thrush  (which  is  but  little  larger) ;  by  the  dull  orange  crown,  the 
feathers  on  the  head  being  elevated  when  the  bird  becomes 
excited,  and  by  the  fact  that  he  walks. 

When  the  nest  is  threatened  these  birds  become  greatly 
excited,  coming  close  to  the  intruder,  and  then  feigning  broken 
wings  and  general  demoralisation,  uttering  all  the  time  a  rather 
sharp  and  piteous  note;  the  nest  is  carefully  hidden  amongst  the 
dead  leaves  and  young  spring  growth,  and  is  somewhat  difficult  to 
find.  It  is  often  completed  several  days  before  the  eggs  are  laid. 

75 


Covered  or  Arched  Nests  on  Ground 

The  young  remain  with  and  are  fed  by  their  parents  until  fully 
grown.  The  old  birds  show  clearly  the  whereabouts  of  the  young 
by  their  excitement  when  one  comes  even  within  a  hundred 
yards  of  them. 

In  the  vicinity  of  New  York  the  nests  are  finished  by  May 
1 4th;  probably  two  and  perhaps  three  broods  are  reared,  as  I 
have  seen  the  young  being  fed  as  late  as  the  end  of  August. 

In  Massachusetts  the  season  is  about  ten  days  later. 

681.    Maryland  Yellow-throat:  Geothlypus  trichas  (Linn.) 

Eggs  white,  with  fine  specks  or  spots  of  chocolate  and  purple 
brown,  the  spots  not  being  very  numerous  and  mostly  at  the 
larger  end.     Nests  rarely  and  then  only  partly  arched. 
See  Page  69,  Chapter  II. 


Chapter    IV 

PART  I.— OPEN  NESTS  IN  MARSHES,  REEDS, 
SAW-GRASS,  AND  LOW  BUSHES  IN  OPEN 
COUNTRY 

33O.    Everglade  Kite;   Snail  Hawk:    Rostrhamus  socia- 
bills  CVIeill.) 

Adult $—  Dark  slate  colour;   upper  tail  coverts  and  beneath  the 

tail  white ;  tail  tipped  with  white. 
Adult  ?  and  immature — Dark  brown,  feathers  tipped  with  rusty 

colour,  under  parts  somewhat  mottled.     Length — 18.00. 
Breeding  Range — Southward  from  middle  Florida. 

Nest  of  coarse  grass  or  saw-grass,  either  in  tall  rank  grass  or  in 
low  bushes  among  the  saw-grass;  "they  measure  about  a  foot 
in  diameter,  with  a  cavity  three  inches  deep"  (Davie).  2  to  3 
eggs  are  laid ;  they  are  dusky  white  or  brownish,  with  blotches 
and  spots  of  dark  reddish  brown.  Size — 1.85  x  1.47. 

The  name  Snail  Hawk  is  well  applied  to  these  birds,  as  their 
food  consists  largely  of  a  kind  of  snail  that  is  to  be  found  in  shal- 
low water. 

The  breeding  season  in  Florida  begins  in  March. 

498.    Red-winged  Blackbird  :  Agelaius  phceniceus  (Linn.) 

Adult  & — Black  except  the  shoulders,  which  are  bright  scarlet 

edged  with  light  buff. 
Immature  $  — Somewhat  rusty  coloured,  with  the  scarlet  of  the 

shoulders  replaced  by  dull  orange  and  black. 

— Upper  parts  dull  buff  and  black  streaked;    under  parts 

streaked  blackish  and  white,  the  throat  tinged  with   dull 

orange  buff,  and  shoulders  sometimes  tinged  with  pinkish 

red.     Length  (3)— 9.51. 

77 


Open  Nests  in  Marshes,  Reeds,  and  Saw-Grass 

Breeding  Range — Throughout  the  Eastern   States,  from    Florida 
northward. 

The  nest  varies  greatly  both  in  its  construction  and  situation ; 
usually  of  weeds  and  coarse  grasses,  lined  with  hair,  placed  in  a 
large  tussock  of  grass,  cat-tails,  or  reeds ;  very  often  in  alders  and 
sometimes  in  wild  rose  or  other  bushes,  generally  within  four 
or  five  feet  of  the  ground  though  occasionally  it  is  placed  at  a 
much  greater  height. 

Most  nests  are  about  three  inches  deep  inside,  but  some  that 
are  built  like  the  orchard  oriole's  are  much  deeper. 

The  eggs,  3  to  5  in  number,  are  very  pale  greenish  blue  or 
pearly  white,  with  either  blotches  or  scrawls  of  dark  purplish 
brown,  faint  cloudy  blotches  of  dull  purple  brown,  and  spots  of 
black.  Some  few  eggs  have  no  distinct  markings,  only  faint 
cloudy  blotches  of  purplish  brown.  Size — i.oo  x  .75.  See  Fig. 
6,  Plate  C. 

These  common  but  strikingly  coloured  birds  may  be  found 
during  the  breeding  season  in  almost  any  swampy  place  where 
there  is  a  river  or  pond  nearby.  In  the  neighbourhood  of  New 
York  they  begin  nesting  about  the  first  week  in  May,  and  lay 
two  sets  of  eggs,  the  second  set  being  laid  towards  the  end  of 
June.  I  have  found  these  nests  in  a  wild  rose  bush,  hung  over 
and  within  twenty-one  inches  of  the  water,  resembling  in  con- 
struction the  nest  of  the  orchard  oriole,  but  much  more 
roughly  made. 


498b.    Florida  Redwing:  A.  p.  bryanti  Ridgw. 

A  small  sub-species  of  the  Red-winged  Blackbird  found  in 
Florida. 

The  breeding  habits  and  eggs  of  this  bird  are  described  as 
identical  with  those  of  the  more  northern  variety. 


584.    Swamp  Sparrow :  Melospiza  georgiana  (Lath.) 

Eggs  white  or  whitish,  broadly  blotched  with  reddish  brown 
or  chocolate. 

See  Page  63,  Chapter  II. 
78 


NEST    OF    RED-WINGED    BLACKBIRD. 


Globular  Nests  in  Marsh-Grass,  Reeds,  etc. 

PART  II.— GLOBULAR  NESTS  IN  MARSH-GRASS, 
REEDS,  ETC. 


724.  Short-billed    Marsh    Wren:      Cistothorus   stellaris 

(Licht.) 

Adult — Black  and  brown  streaked  with  buff  and  white  ;  under 
parts  white  or  whitish  tinged  with  buff.  Length — 4.00. 

Breeding  Range — The  Eastern  States  from  New  Hampshire  and 
Manitoba  southward. 

The  nest,  which  is  globular  or  spherical,  with  the  entrance 
on  the  side,  is  made  of  coarse  grasses  or  thin  reeds,  with  the  lin- 
ing of  plant  down ;  it  is  attached  to  upright  reeds  in  marshes. 
5  to  7  eggs  are  laid  ;  they  are  usually  pure  white,  but  are 
sometimes  marked  faintly  with  rather  large  spots  of  pale  lavender. 
Size — .64  x.45. 

This  energetic  little  wren,  which  builds  such  a  remarkable 
nest,  is  found  more  often  in  the  damp  meadows  than  in  the  regu- 
lar swamps  where  his  cousin,  the  long-billed  marsh  wren,  lives. 
The  habit  of  building  more  nests  than  are  ever  used  for  laying 
eggs  in,  is  one  of  the  peculiarities  of  the  marsh  wrens.  Where 
one  nest  is  found  there  are  sure  to  be  others  not  far  away,  some 
finished  and  some  scarcely  more  than  begun.  Whether  these 
are  for  roosting  in,  or  simply  experiments,  or  as  a  method  of 
protection,  it  is  difficult  to  say.  Two  sets  of  eggs  are  usually 
laid  ;  the  first  about  the  end  of  May,  and  the  second  in  July. 

725.  Long-billed   Marsh   Wren ;     Cistothorus    palustris 

(Wils.) 

Adult—  Upper  parts  very  dark  brown  or  nearly  black,  the  rump 
being  a  reddish  brown  or  chestnut ;  white  line  from  the  bill 
over  the  eye,  and  white  streaks  on  the  back  ;  under  parts 
dusky  gray  or  whitish.  The  young  birds  have  the  breast 
light  yellow.  Length — 5.20. 

Breeding  Range — Throughout  the  Eastern  States  northward  to 
Massachusetts. 

The  nest  is  built  of  reeds,  grasses,  weeds,  and  sometimes  mud, 
with  the  lining  either  of  grass  or  plant  down,  the  seed  from  the 

79 


Globular  Nests  in  Marsh-Grass,  Reeds,  etc. 

cat-tails  being  frequently  used.  It  is  globular,  often  rather  long 
and  narrow,  with  very  irregular  outline  ;  the  entrance,  which  is 
on  the  side,  is  in  some  nests  almost  concealed  ;  the  reeds  or 
grass  to  which  the  nest  is  attached  form  part  of  the  structure 
itself,  being  interwoven  with  the  other  materials.  Swamps,  even 
where  the  water  is  several  feet  in  depth,  are  the  places  most  often 
selected  for  the  nesting,  but  damp  meadows  are  not  infrequently 
chosen. 

The  number  of  eggs  ranges  from  5  to  8  and  rarely  9.  They 
are  so  thickly  covered  with  spots  and  blotches  of  various  shades 
of  brown  that  in  most  cases  the  white  ground  colour  is  entirely 
obliterated.  Size — .65  x.49-  See  Fig.  20,  Plate  C. 

The  Long-billed  Marsh  Wren  is  generally  to  be  found  in 
swamps  of  either  brackish  or  fresh  water,  and  there  he  and  his 
mate  may  be  seen  during  the  breeding  season,  industriously  feed- 
ing, building  nests  (for  they  build  many  that  are  apparently  never 
used),  singing  while  perched  on  the  top  of  a  cat-tail,  or  scolding 
the  intruder,  but  never  for  a  moment  quiet. 

The  nests  may  be  found  within  a  few  inches  of  the  ground, 
or  in  tall  reeds  eight  feet  or  more  clear  of  either  ground  or  water. 

The  accompanying  photograph  shows  the  young  bird  at  the 
time  of  leaving  the  nest,  its  brothers  and  sisters  having  already 
left. 

The  eggs  are  laid  about  the  third  week  in  May. 

725b.    Worthington's  Marsh  Wren :  C.  p.  griseus  (Brewst.) 

A  southern  sub-species  of  the  long-billed  marsh  wren,  being 
lighter  and  more  gray  in  colour;  its  breeding  habits  are  probably 
identical. 
Breeding  Range — "The    coast    region    of   South   Carolina    and 

Georgia."    (The  A.  O.  U.  checklist) 

725.1.    Marian's  Marsh  Wren  :    C.  p.  marianae  Scott. 

Resembling  the  long-billed  marsh  wren,  but  darker,  smaller, 
and  with  the  under  parts  barred. 
Breeding  Range— The  Gulf  coast  of  Florida. 

These  birds  are  found  in  salt-water  or  brackish  marshes, 
where  they  breed  ;  the  nests  are  described  as  similar  to  those  of 
the  long-billed  marsh  wren. 

80 


Chapter  V 

NESTS  IN  BUILDINGS,  BRIDGES,  WALLS, 
ROCKS,  BANKS,  AMONG  ROOTS,  BRUSH 
HEAPS,  AND  IN  HOLES  IN  THE  GROUND 

349.    Golden  Eagle:    Aquila  chrysaetos  (Linn.) 

Adutt—Dark  brown ;  back  of  head  and  neck  rusty,  with  pointed 
feathers ;  the  lower  part  of  leg  (tarsus)  covered  with  white 
feathers.  "Length — 630.001035.00.  $35.001040.00." 

Breeding  Range — Rarely  east  of  the  Mississippi,  breeding  prob- 
ably in  the  mountainous  regions  of  New  York  and  New 
England. 

The  nest  is  placed  usually  on  rocky  cliffs,  but  sometimes  in 
trees;  it  is  very  large,  being  as  much  as  "  four  feet  in  depth  and 
five  feet  in  diameter,"  and  is  made  of  "sticks  and  lined  with 
straw  stubble,  green  grass,  and  twigs  in  leaf"  (Davie). 

The  eggs,  2  or  3  in  number,  are  whitish,  blotched,  spotted, 
and  faintly  clouded  with  chestnut  brown  and  pale  lavender. 
Size — 2.95  x  2.28. 

The  Golden  Eagle  breeds  in  the  mountains  of  the  West,  and 
is  rarely  found  nesting  in  the  Eastern  States.  In  California  the 
eggs  are  laid  toward  the  end  of  February. 


356.    Duck  Hawk;   Peregrine  Falcon :    Falco  peregrinus 
anatum  (Bonap.) 

Adult — Upper  parts  dark  slate  colour;  tail  darker,  tipped  with 
white;  under  parts  cream,  barred  with  dark  slate  colour  or 
black,  except  upper  part  of  breast.  "Length — $  16.00; 
$  19.00." 

Breeding  Range — The  Eastern  States — breeding  very  locally. 
6  81 


Nests  in  Buildings,  Bridges,  Walls,  Etc. 

The  nest  is  usually  placed  in  the  ledges  of  rocks  in  the 
mountainous  districts,  but  sometimes  a  hollow  in  a  large  tree 
is  used.  3  to  4  eggs  are  laid;  they  vary  greatly  in  colour; 
some  are  creamy  white  with  dark  chocolate  blotches,  and  others 
are  reddish  brown,  spotted  and  blotched  with  various  shades  of 
the  same  colour.  Size — 2.08  x  1.63. 

Few  people  associate  the  name  of  Duck  Hawk  with  the  Pere- 
grine Falcon  of  history,  yet  this  is  the  bird  that  was  used  when 
falconry  was  the  fashionable  pastime  ;  at  that  time  almost  any 
price  was  paid  for  a  well-trained  tercel,  as  the  male  bird  was 
called;  now  that  falconry  has  almost  died  out,  the  name  of  pere- 
grine will  probably  go,  and  the  more  common  name  of  duck 
hawk  will  be  the  only  name  by  which  this  bird  will  be  known. 

The  breeding  season  in  the  South  begins  in  March. 

357.    Pigeon  Hawk:    Falco  columbarius  Linn. 

Adult — Upper  parts  slate  colour;   tail  with  white  bars;   under 

parts  buff,  marked  with  deep  brown. 
Immature — Upper  parts  brownish  or  ashy  brown;   tail  barred 

with  buff ;  under  parts  light  rusty  buff  with  streaks  of  deep 

brown.     Length — 10.00  to  13.00. 
Breeding  Range — Seldom  very  far  south  of  the  northern  boundary 

of  the  United  States. 

The  place  chosen  for  nesting  may  be  on  a  cliff,  in  the  hollow 
of  a  tree,  or  on  the  branches.  4  to  5  eggs  are  laid ;  they  are 
light  cinnamon  or  creamy  white  with  blotches,  clouded  and 
spotted  with  chestnut  and  brown.  Size — 1.56  x  1.22. 

365.    American  Barn  Owl:    Strix  pratincola  Bonap. 

Adult — Upper  parts  a  general  mixture  of  yellowish  buff  and 
gray;  under  parts  and  face  white  or  creamy  white;  no  ear- 
tufts ;  eyes  black.  Length — 18.00. 

Breeding  Range — From  Connecticut,  southward. 

The  nest  is  placed  either  in  some  part  of  an  old  building, 
a  bridge,  or  in  a  hollow  branch  of  a  tree,  rarely  in  banks  or  "holes 
in  the  ground  "  (Davie).  The  eggs  are  white  and  vary  in  number 
usually  from  4  to  9.  "Authentic  sets  of  eleven"  are  mentioned 
by  Davie."  Size — 1.72x1.35. 

82 


Nests  in  Buildings,  Bridges,  Walls,  Etc. 

The  American  Barn  Owl  closely  resembles  its  European  cousin ; 
in  fact  it  may  be  found  in  most  parts  of  the  world,  with  but 
slight  changes  in  its  appearance.  A  set  of  eggs  was  taken  at 
Princeton,  New  Jersey,  on  April  23d. 

373.    Screech  Owl :    Megascops  asio  (Linn.) 

Eggs  white. 

See  Page  98,  Chapter  VI. 

373a.    Florida  Screech  Owl :   M.  a.  floridanus  (Ridgw.) 

Eggs  white. 

See  page  99,  Chapter  VI. 


378a.    Florida    Burrowing    Owl:      Speotyto    cunicularia 
floridana  (Ridgw.) 

Adult — Upper  parts  grayish  spotted  and  brokenly  barred  with 
white;  under  parts  barred  gray,  white,  and  brown;  throat 
white ;  legs  long  and  very  slightly  feathered ;  no  ear  tufts. 
Length — 9.00. 

Breeding  Range — Southern  Florida  prairies. 

The  eggs,  numbering  5  to  7,  are  laid  in  burrows  made  by 
the  birds  themselves;  they  are  white.  Size — 1.23  x  1.03.  In 
the  prairie  lands  of  southern  Florida  these  diurnal  owls  may  be 
seen  perched  on  the  mounds  near  their  burrows;  they  are  very 
similar  to  the  Western  burrowing  owl,  being  somewhat  smaller 
and  colder  in  colour;  they  are  quite  common  in  the  open  country 
west  of  Lake  Okeechobee,  Florida,  where  they  breed  in  consider- 
able numbers  during  April.  They  have  known  to  breed  in  cap- 
tivity. These  birds  probably  remain  paired  for  life. 


39O.    Belted  Kingfisher:    Ceryle  alcyon  (Linn.) 

Adult $ — Upper  parts  grayish  blue;  wing  feathers  tipped  with 
white;  under  parts  white,  with  grayish-blue  band  across 
breast,  and  the  same  colour  on  the  sides;  long  feathers  on 
the  head,  forming  a  crest. 

Adult  $  — Resembles  the  male  except  that  the  band  on  the  breast 
and  the  sides  is  chestnut  instead  of  gray.  Length — 13.02. 

Breeding  Range — Throughout  the  United  States. 

83 


Nests  in  Buildings,  Bridges,  Walls,  Etc. 

The  eggs  are  laid  in  a  deep  hole  made  by  the  bird ;  it  some- 
times is  as  much  as  eight  or  nine  feet,  though  usually  not  more 
than  about  four  feet  in  depth ;  this  is  generally  excavated  in  a  bank 
of  sand,  gravel,  or  earth,  rarely  in  a  cliff;  it  often  takes  the  bird 
two  weeks  to  make  the  hole.  The  nest  is  occasionally  made  of 
grass,  though  the  eggs  are  more  frequently  deposited  on  the 
ground  among  bones  and  refuse  ejected  by  the  parent  bird. 

The  eggs  are  white,  and  number  from  5  to  7  and  sometimes 
8.  Size — 1.35  x  1.05. 

This  is  the  only  representative  of  the  kingfisher  family  found 
in  the  Eastern  States ;  he  may  be  seen  along  the  banks  of  a 
stream  or  river  or  pond,  but  lacking  confidence  in  man,  he  will 
not  admit  of  a  near  approach. 

The  breeding  season  begins  the  first  week  in  May,  and 
probably  only  one  set  of  eggs  is  laid. 


42O.    Nighthawk:   Chordeiles  virginianus  (Cmel.) 

Eggs  olive,  buff,  or  light  gray,  with  numerous  specks  and 
blotches  of  darker  gray,  olive  and  purplish,  sometimes  spots  of 
dark  purplish  gray  evenly  distributed. 

See  Page  39,  Chapter  I. 

423.     Chimney    Swift:     Chimney     Swallow:      Chaetura 
pelagica  (Linn.) 

Adult — Dull  grayish  brown;  the  stiffened  shafts  of  the  tail 
feathers  extend  about  half  an  inch  beyond  the  vanes.  Length 
—5-43- 

Breeding  Range — Throughout  the  Eastern  States. 

The  nest  is  formed  entirely  of  short  sticks,  fastened  together 
and  to  the  support  with  a  glutinous  substance  from  the  birds' 
salivary  glands  (which  shrink  after  the  breeding  season),  and  is 
nearly  always  placed  in  a  chimney  that  is  not  in  use;  probably  in 
more  remote  districts  the  nest  is  still  built  in  hollow  trees,  as  in 
former  times,  before  chimneys  were  to  be  found  throughout  the 
country. 

The  eggs  are  white,  and  number  from  4  to  6.  Size— 
.80  x  .50. 

84 


Nests  in  Buildings,  Bridges,  Walls,  Etc. 

These  birds  may  be  easily  identified  by  the  dusky  colour,  thin, 
short,  spinous  tails,  and  by  their  flight,  which  consists  of  alter- 
nate strokes  of  the  wings.  (After  careful  observation  I  am  prac- 
tically sure  that  such  is  the  case,  though  I  believe  this  is  a  dis- 
puted point.)  The  twigs  that  form  the  nest  are  broken  off  while 
the  bird  is  in  flight. 

The  breeding  season  begins  toward  the  end  of  May  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  New  York.  Possibly  two  sets  of  eggs  are  laid, 
as  I  have  found  a  nest  containing  young  birds  not  more  than  a 
day  or  two  old  on  July  26th. 


456.    Phoebe:    Sayornis  phoebe  (Lath.) 

Adult — Upper  parts  grayish  olive  brown;   top  of  head  darker; 
under  parts  grayish  white,  slightly  tinged  with  yellow. 

Immature    birds    have  the  yellow   more  pronounced. 
Length — 6.99. 

Breeding  Range — The  Eastern  States,  from  South  Carolina  north- 
ward. 

The  nest  is  built  chiefly  of  moss  and  sometimes  lichen, 
cemented  together  with  mud  and  lined  with  hair.  It  is  placed 
beneath  the  eaves  of  a  house,  on  beams  of  a  house  or  wooden 
bridge,  against  the  perpendicular  side  of  a  stone  bridge  or  cul- 
vert, against  the  face  of  a  cliff,  beneath  projecting  stones,  or  in 
almost  any  available  place.  The  eggs  are  generally  pure  white, 
but  it  is  not  at  all  uncommon  to  find  among  a  set  one  or  two 
that  have  a  few  light  reddish  or  dark  brownish  spots ;  the  usual 
number  is  4  or  5.  Size — .78  x.57. 

The  Phoebe  is  perhaps  one  of  the  most  common  as  well  as 
one  of  the  tamest  of  our  birds.  Year  after  year  they  will  build 
or  rebuild  their  nests  in  the  same  place,  and  that  place  is  fre- 
quently over  a  door  that  is  in  constant  use,  the  birds  thus  evinc- 
ing but  little  fear  of  man. 

The  nesting  place  in  former  times  was  probably  the  face  of  a 
cliff,  and  even  now  it  is  not  uncommon  to  find  nests  thus  situ- 
ated, though  in  the  vicinity  of  buildings.  During  the  past  season 
I  found  no  less  than  three  nests  on  large  stones  or  cliffs,  and  two 
of  them  were  within  a  hundred  yards  or  so  of  both  a  building 
and  a  bridge.  Two  successive  broods  are  reared  in  different 

85 


Nests  in  Buildings,  Bridges,  Walls,  Etc. 

nests,  the  first  nest  being  begun  about  the  middle  of  April  and 
the  second  toward  the  middle  of  July.  Both  nests  are  built  near 
or  about  in  the  same  place,  the  first  often  being  torn  down  to 
make  room  for  the  second.  The  birds  will  seldom  forsake  the 
nest,  even  when  most  of  the  eggs  are  taken ;  and  I  have  removed 
a  nest  containing  three  eggs  in  order  to  photograph  it,  and  even 
though  it  was  not  returned  to  its  original  place  the  female  con- 
tinued laying  as  if  it  had  never  been  disturbed.  After  the  young 
leave  the  nest  they  stay  together,  generally  sitting  close  to  each 
other  on  a  low  branch,  taking  short  flights  together  or  singly ; 
this  they  do  for  five  or  six  days,  when  they  gradually  become 
separated,  the  parent  bird  in  the  meantime  feeding  them. 


463.    Yellow-bellied    Flycatcher:     Empidonax  flaviven- 
tris  Baird. 

Adult—  Upper  parts  dark  olive  green ;  tail  and  wings  dull  grayish 
brown,  the  wings  having  two  very  pale  yellowish  bars;  the 
belly  lemon  yellow,  breast  and  side  greenish  yellow. 
Length — 5.63. 

Breeding  Range — The  more  northern  parts  of  the  United  States ; 
not  south  of  Berkshire  County,  Massachusetts. 

The  nest  is  made  of  moss,  lined  with  fine  grass  and  fine  black 
roots  and  pine  needles,  usually  imbedded  in  moss  in  the  upturned 
roots  of  a  fallen  tree,  or  even  in  a  decayed  stump.  4  and  pos- 
sibly 5  eggs  are  laid ;  they  are  creamy  white,  speckled  or  spotted, 
chiefly  at  the  larger  end,  with  light  chestnut.  Size — .70  x  .50. 

Not  very  much  is  known  of  the  breeding  habits  of  this  bird, 
comparatively  few  nests  having  been  taken;  breeding,  as  they 
usually  do  in  the  forests  remote  from  civilisation,  together  with  the 
fact  that  the  nest  is  carefully  concealed  and  therefore  very  hard  to 
find,  renders  the  studying  of  their  nesting  habits  an  extremely 
difficult  task. 

The  breeding  season  probably  begins  in  June. 

486a.  Northern  Raven  :  Corvus  corax  principalis  Ridgw. 

It  is  possible  that  this  sub-species  of  raven  breeds  within  the 
United  States,  although  I  find  no  authentic  record  of  its  doing  so. 
The  bird  is  blue  black,  and  is  about  four  or  five  inches  longer 
than  the  common  crow  (Corvus  americanus). 

86 


Nests  in  Buildings,  Bridges,  Walls,  Etc. 

The  nest  is  usually  built  on  cliffs  in  more  or  less  inaccessible 
places,  and  sometimes  in  trees;  it  is  composed  of  "large  sticks 
closely  and  artistically  arranged,  with  a  lining  of  coarse  grasses, 
sea- weed,  and  wool"  (Davie).  2  to  7  eggs  are  laid;  they  are 
greenish  blue,  spotted,  blotched,  and  streaked  more  or  less 
heavily  with  olive  brown.  Size — 1.90  x  1.27. 

English  Sparrow:   Passer  domesticus  (Linn.) 

This  bird  of  foreign  extraction  was  brought  here  from  Eng- 
land in  1851,  and  for  some  years  confined  itself  to  the  larger 
cities;  since  about  1870,  however,  it  has  been  rapidly  spreading, 
and  may  be  found  everywhere,  in  country  and  town,  through- 
out the  Eastern  States;  it  has  even  crossed  the  great  plains, 
and  will  probably  soon  be  common  in  the  West.  The  nest  is 
placed  either  in  buildings  or  trees,  more  often  the  former;  it  is 
of  very  irregular  size,  and  of  no  particular  shape,  its  size  and 
shape  depending  on  the  amount  of  vacant  space  and  the  num- 
ber of  broods  reared.  The  breeding  season  begins  almost  before 
winter  has  gone  and  lasts  till  late  in  the  autumn.  The  eggs 
are  generally  whitish,  thickly  marked  with  dark  gray  or  olive; 
sometimes  they  are  plain  gray.  Size — About  .80  x  .60. 

567.    Snowbird;  J unco:    J unco  hyemalis  (Linn.) 

Eggs  greenish  or  bluish  white,  with  fine  spots  and  some- 
times blotched  with  reddish  and  purple,  brown  and  lilac,  chiefly 
in  a  wreath  round  the  larger  end. 

See  Page  61,  Chapter  II. 

567e.    Carolina  Junco:    J.  h.  carolinensis  Brewst. 

Eggs  same  as  the  preceding,  but  somewhat  larger. 
See  Page  61,  Chapter  II. 

611.    Purple  Martin  :   Progne  subis  (Linn.) 

Adult  $,  —Blue  black. 

Adult  ? — Upper  parts   blue   black;    under  parts  grayish,    with 

indistinct  white  tips  to  the  feathers;  belly  white.     Length 

—8.00. 

Breeding  Range — Throughout  the  United  States. 

87 


Nests  in  Buildings,  Bridges,  Walls,  Etc. 

The  nests  are  built  of  any  available  material,  and  are  gen- 
erally placed  in  bird  boxes  or  in  buildings ;  formerly  they  nested 
in  hollow  trees,  and  perhaps  they  continue  doing  so  in  more 
remote  districts. 

The  eggs,  numbering  4  to  5,  are  white.     Size — .98  x  .73. 

These  birds  are  gradually  leaving  their  old  resorts.  What  is 
the  cause  of  their  so  doing  is  hard  to  say ;  some  people  attribute 
it  to  the  increasing  numbers  of  the  English  sparrows.  Some 
places  that  1  know  of  (near  South  Orange,  New  Jersey)  have  been 
used  during  years  past  for  nesting  purposes ;  this  year  I  was  told 
the  birds  arrived  about  the  usual" time;  after  stopping  for  two 
days  they  left,  and  have  not  been  seen  again ;  but  in  this  place 
the  English  sparrow  had  been  carefully  killed  off,  so  that  there 
were  but  few  left. 

The  breeding  season  begins  about  the  middle  of  May. 

611.  1.    Cuban  Martin:  Progne  cryptoleuca  Baird. 

Very  similar  to  the  purple  martin,  but  smaller,  and  with 
narrower  tail  feathers. 
Breeding  Range — Southern  Florida. 

Nest  and  nesting  habits  described  as  identical,  except  that  it 
breeds  in  hollow  trees  as  well  as  in  buildings,  and  the  eggs  are 
slightly  smaller. 


612.    Cliff  Swallow;  Eave  Swallow:  Petrochelidon  luni- 
frons  (Say.) 

Adult — Upper  parts  dark  steel  blue ;  forehead  nearly  white ;  tail 
short  and  scarcely  pointed;  throat  chestnut;  breast  gray 
shading  into  white  on  the  belly ;  a  blue-gray  patch  on  upper 
part  of  breast ;  rump  pale  rufous  or  chestnut.  Length — 6.01 . 

Breeding  Range — Throughout  North  America,  north  of  Florida, 
breeding  locally. 

The  nest  is  built  of  pellets  of  mud,  with  sometimes  small 
bits  of  straw  and  grass;  the  lining  is  of  grass  and  feathers;  it  is  a 
queer-shaped  nest,  in  the  form  of  a  retort,  with  the  neck  more  or 
less  formed,  and  is  fastened  beneath  the  eaves,  or  on  the  rafters 
of  a  building;  in  remote  districts  it  is  attached  to  cliffs  or  em- 

88 


Nests  in  Buildings,  Bridges,  Walls,  Etc. 

bankments,  the  birds  nesting  in  colonies.  4  or  5  eggs  are  laid ; 
they  are  white,  with  dots  and  spots  of  reddish  brown.  Size — 
.82  x  .56. 

These  birds  somewhat  resemble  the  barn  swallows;  the 
light  chestnut  rump  and  the  shortness  of  the  tail  serve  to  dis- 
tinguish them.  The  eggs  of  these  two  species  are  often  identical. 

The  nesting  season  begins  towards  the  end  of  May. 

613.    Barn  Swallow:  Chelidon  erythrogaster  (Bodd.) 

Adult — Upper  parts  dark  steel  blue;  forehead,  throat,  and  upper 
part  of  breast  chestnut;  under  parts  light  chestnut  buff;  tail 
forked.  Length — 6.95. 

Breeding  Range — Throughout  North  America. 

The  nest  is  placed  on  rafters  and  similar  supports,  either 
inside  or  outside  a  barn  or  other  building;  it  is  made  of  pellets  01 
mud  with  straws  intermixed,  and  a  deep  lining  of  hay  and 
feathers,  the  feathers  usually  overhanging  the  edge  of  the  nest. 
The  eggs,  4  to  6  in  number,  are  white,  with  spots,  dots,  and 
blotches  of  reddish  brown  and  purplish.  Size — .75  x  .55. 

These  birds  are  surrounded  by  superstition,  and  all  sorts  of 
ill-luck  is  promised  to  the  person  who  kills  one  or  even  destroys 
its  nest. 

Probably,  in  former  days,  larmers  realised  more  fully  the  value 
of  these  insect-eating  birds,  as  threats  were  made  in  order  to 
protect  them  from  mischievous  boys. 

Two  broods  are  reared,  the  first  set  of  eggs  being  laid  about 
the  beginning  of  May,  the  second  about  five  or  six  weeks  later. 


614.    White- bellied  Swallow ;  Tree  Swallow  :  Tachycineta 
bicolor  (Vieill.) 

Adult — Upper  parts  greenish  blue  steel  colour;  under  parts  white. 

Length — 5.90. 
Breeding  Range — "From  the  fur  countries  south  to  New  Jersey, 

the  Ohio  Valley,  Kansas,  and  Colorado"  (A.O.U.  check-list). 

Nest  either  in  bird  boxes,  in  hollow  trees,  or  in  cliffs.  4  to 
6,  or  sometimes  7,  unmarked  white  eggs  are  laid.  Size — .75  x.^. 

In  some  parts  of  the  country  these  swallows  have  not  yet 
abandoned  their  ancient  custom  of  breeding  in  hollow  trees  and 

89 


Nests  in  Buildings,  Bridges,  Walls,  Etc. 

other  natural  cavities,  while  in  the  more  thickly  settled  regions 
they  have  utilised  the  nesting  places  provided  for  their  conven- 
ience by  man.  It  will  probably  not  be  many  years  before  hollow 
trees  will  no  longer  be  used,  except  possibly  as  roosting  places. 
The  breeding  season  lasts  from  the  middle  of  May  until  July,  two 
broods  being  reared ;  after  the  young  of  the  first  brood  are  strong 
enough  they  commence  flocking,  and  may  be  seen  early  in  July 
flying  in  large  numbers  over  the  low  lands;  these  are  joined  by 
the  second  broods  and  the  parents  about  the  beginning  of  August, 
so  that  the  flocks  contain  countless  numbers.  In  the  early 
morning,  as  the  sun  appears  on  the  horizon,  these  birds  sit  along 
the  telegraph  wires  sunning  themselves  and  making  their  morn- 
ing toilet. 

616.    Bank  Swallow :  Clivicola  riparia  (Linn.) 

Adult — Upper  parts  and  band  on  breast  grayish  brown;  under 

parts  white.     Length — 5.20. 
Breeding  Range — Throughout  North  America. 

The  nest  is  composed  of  small  twigs,  grass,  and  feathers, 
placed  in  a  hole  made  in  the  face  of  a  bank,  usually  near  water, 
the  banks  of  a  river  being  most  suitable.  The  eggs  are  white, 
the  number  being  usually  4  or  5,  sometimes  as  many  as  7. 
Size — .68  x  .50. 

The  Bank  Swallows  generally  breed  in  large  colonies,  occu- 
pying the  entire  face  of  a  bank,  which  they  honeycomb  with  their 
nesting  holes ;  these  excavations  are  usually  about  twenty  inches 
deep,  but  some  are  as  much  as  four  feet  from  the  surface. 

These  birds  are  rather  smaller  than  the  rough-winged  swal- 
low, and  may  be  distinguished  by  the  grayish  band  across  the 
breast.  The  breeding  season  begins  about  the  middle  of  May, 
two  broods  being  reared. 

617.    Rough-winged  Swallow :  Stelgidopteryx  serripennis 
(Aud.) 

Adult — Upper  parts  grayish  brown;  under  parts  gray,  breast 
shading  into  white  on  the  belly.  The  outer  wing  feather 
(first  primary)  is  edged  with  "recurved  booklets,"  and  is 
rough  to  the  touch.  Length — 5.75. 

Breeding  Range — Throughout  North  America;    in   the   Eastern 
States  from  Connecticut  southward. 
90 


Nests  in  Buildings,  Bridges,  Walls,  Etc. 

The  nest,  scarcely  worthy  of  the  name,  is  a  small  collection 
of  feathers,  grass,  and  straw,  placed  under  bridges,  in  stone  walls, 
or  in  holes  in  banks.  4  to  6,  and  rarely  8,  white  eggs  are  laid. 
Size — .71  x  .50. 

These  birds  generally  build  near  water,  the  nests  being 
frequently  placed  in  crevices  between  the  stones  of  bridge  abut- 
ments, or  even  on  the  beams. 

The  eggs  are  laid  early  in  May,  many  days  being  occupied 
in  building  the  nest. 

675.    Water-thrush  :  Sefurus  noveboracensis  (Gmel.) 

Adult — Upper  parts  olive  brown,  somewhat  darker  on  the  head; 
line  above  the  eye  buff,  or  nearly  white;  under  parts  white, 
more  or  less  tinged  with  light  yellow,  numerous  spots  form- 
ing broken  streaks,  less  numerous  on  the  belly ;  the  indi- 
vidual spots,  particularly  those  on  the  breast,  are  V-shaped. 
Length— 6.04. 

Breeding  Range — The  Northern  States,  from  northern  New  Eng- 
land northward. 

The  nest  is  composed  principally  of  moss,  with  leaves  and 
roots,  and  lined  with  fine  hair-like  roots.  It  is  placed  among  the 
roots  of  a  tree  where  the  bank  has  fallen  away,  in  a  bank,  or 
similar  place.  The  eggs  are  white,  with  rather  large  cinnamon 
or  hazel-brown  spots,  more  thickly  distributed  about  the  larger 
end.  Size— .76  x  .59. 

To  find  the  nest  of  any  of  the  Water-thrushes  requires  more 
than  ordinary  patience  and  skill,  as  they  are  most  cleverly  hidden 
among  the  overhanging  roots  along  the  banks  of  a  stream,  or  in 
a  mossy  bank,  usually  not  far  from  water.  These  birds  may  be 
seen  in  damp  woods,  dried  up  watercourses,  but  most  frequently 
along  a  shallow  stream,  where  they  stand  or  walk  on  the  stones, 
moving  their  tails  up  and  down,  after  the  manner  of  the  wag- 
tails, and  making  short,  rapid  flights  to  catch  the  various  insects 
that  fly  near  the  surface  of  the  water.  The  breeding  season 
begins  during  the  second  week  in  May. 

675a.    Grinnell's  Water-thrush:   S.  n.  notabilis  (Ridgw.) 

Very  similar  to  the  water-thrush,  but  somewhat  larger  and 
darker  on  the  upper  parts.  Nesting  habits,  nests,  and  eggs  identical. 
Breeding  Range — From  Illinois  westward  and  northward. 

91 


Nests  in  Buildings,  Bridges,  Walls,  Etc. 


676.    Louisiana  or  Large-billed  Water-thrush:    Seiurus 
motacilia(Vieill.) 

Adult—  Upper  parts  warm  olive  brown;  white  line  over  eye; 

under  parts  white,  tinged  with  yellow,  and  streaked  with 

dark  brown  or  blackish ;  V-shaped  spots  except  on  the  throat ; 

bill  rather  large.     Length— 6.28. 
Breeding  Range— Southern  Michigan,  New  York,  and  southern 

New  England,  southward  to  North  Carolina  and   possibly 

further  south. 

The  nest  is  made  of  leaves  with  mud  adhering  to  them, 
moss,  "grape-grass,  and  sometimes  hair";  it  is  placed  in  banks 
among  roots,  etc.,  in  moist  or  swampy  woods.  The  eggs  are 
white  to  creamy  white,  speckled  and  spotted  with  reddish  or 
yellowish  brown  and  pale  lilac.  Size— .76  x  .62.  See  Fig.  13, 
Plate  C. 

In  the  neighbourhood  of  New  York  the  nesting  season  begins 
during  the  first  week  in  May. 

In  habits  these  birds  resemble  the  water-thrush,  frequenting 
the  streams  and  rivers  and  damp  woods;  their  song  is  remark- 
ably fine,  considered  by  some  to  be  finer  than  that  of  any  other 
of  our  Eastern  birds. 


686.    Canadian  Warbler;  Canada  Flycatcher:   Sylvania 
canadensis  (Linn.) 

Adults — Upper  parts  rather  dark  gray;  forehead  and  front  of 
crown  spotted  black ;  line  from  bill,  under  eye,  and  on  sides 
of  throat  black ;  spots  across  breast  black ;  under  parts  bright 
yellow;  rather  long  bristles  at  base  of  bill.  Length — 5.61. 

Adult  ?  — Similar,  but  less  brilliant. 

Breeding  Range — From  New  England,  northern  Pennsylvania,  and 
Michigan,  northward. 

The  nest  is  usually  placed  in  a  bank  or  among  the  roots  of 
a  fallen  tree,  or  on  the  ground  beneath  bushes  in  swampy  woods, 
and  is  carefully  concealed;  it  is  made  of  moss,  leaves,  weeds, 
strips  of  bark,  and  fine  roots,  sometimes  lined  with  hair.  The 
eggs,  4  or  5  in  number,  are  white,  speckled  principally  round  the 
larger  end  with  hazel,  reddish  brown,  and  lilac.  Size — .68  x  .51. 

The  breeding  season  begins  early  in  June. 
92 


Nests  in  Buildings,  Bridges,  Walls,  Etc. 


718.    Carolina  Wren:    Thryothorus  ludovicanius  (Lath.) 

Adult — Upper  parts  chestnut  brown;  white  line  from  the  bill 
over  and  back  of  eye;  wings  and  tail  barred;  throat  nearly 
white,  shading  into  buffy  gray  on  breast  and  belly.  Length 
—5.50. 

Breeding  Range — From  southern  Connecticut  southward. 

The  nest,  placed  in  hollow  trees,  or  about  buildings,  is 
composed  of  corn-leaves,  grass,  leaves,  feathers,  and  hair.  4  to 
6  eggs  are  laid ;  they  are  white  or  pinkish,  with  numerous  light 
pinkish  brown  and  lilac  gray  markings;  in  some  examples  the 
ground  colour  is  almost  concealed  by  these  spots.  Size — .74  x 
.61.  See  Fig.  3,  Plate  C. 

This  large  wren  is  most  often  to  be  found,  except  during  the 
nesting  season,  in  or  near  damp  places,  usually  near  the  ground ; 
the  nest,  however,  is  generally  in  a  drier  situation,  such  as  a 
wood  or  brush  pile,  inside  a  barn,  or  in  the  hollow  of  a  tree. 
The  birds  are  not  common  in  the  more  northern  portion  of  their 
range.  In  South  Orange,  New  Jersey,  I  noticed  a  pair  of  them 
frequently  during  June  and  July,  and  have  every  reason  to  believe 
they  nested  here.  A  nest  was  found  not  far  from  this  locality  in 
a  barn.  The  nesting  season  begins  in  the  early  part  of  May. 

718a.    Florida  Wren:  T.  1.  mlamensis  Rldgw. 

A   larger  and   darker-coloured  sub-species  of  the  Carolina 
wren.     Nesting  habits  and  nests  probably  identical. 
Breeding  Range — Southern  Florida. 

7 1  9.    Bewick's  Wren  :  Thryothorus  bewickii  (Aud.) 

Adult—  Upper  parts  dark  cinnamon  brown  ;  feathers  of  the  rump 
with  concealed  downy  white  spots;  primaries  not  barred; 
central  tail-feathers  barred;  outer  ones  black,  tipped  with 
grayish;  a  white  line  over  the  eye;  under  parts  grayish- 
white;  flanks  brownish.  Length — 5.00  (Chapman). 

Breeding  Range — From  latitude  forty  degrees  southward;  "rare 
east  of  the  Alleghanies." 

The  nest,  like  that  of  the  house  wren,  is  placed  in  houses, 
holes  in  stumps  or  trees,  brush  heaps,  etc.  The  eggs,  varying 

93 


Nests  in  Buildings,  Bridges,  Walls,  Etc. 

in  number  from  4  to  6,  and  sometimes  7,  are  white  or  pinkish, 
with  numerous  reddish  brown  and  purplish  spots  and  specks 
more  thickly  distributed  about  the  larger  end.  Size—  .64  x  .50. 
See  Fig.  17,  Plate  B. 

Bewick's  Wren  may  be  distinguished  from  the  house  wren 
principally  by  its  longer  tail;  the  habits  are  very  similar. 

721.    House  Wren:  Troglodytes  ae'don  Vieill. 

Adult  —  Upper  parts  grayish  hazel  brown,  more  or  less  barred; 

under  parts  light  gray,  faintly  barred  with  brownish  on  the 

flanks.     Length  —  5.00. 
Breeding  Range  —  Throughout  the  Eastern  States. 

The  nest  is  composed  of  almost  any  material,  twigs,  hay, 
and  feathers  being  most  often  used,  the  lining  being  of  soft  feathers  ; 
any  sort  of  place  is  selected  for  a  building  site,  such  as  a  hole  in 
a  tree,  crevices  or  niches  in  walls  or  houses,  behind  shutters,  on 
rafters,  etc. 

The  eggs  are  usually  so  thickly  covered  with  reddish  or 
pinkish  brown  or  chocolate  markings  that  the  white  or  whitish 
ground  colour  is  partly  or  entirely  hidden;  the  number  varies 
from  4  to  7,  sometimes  9.  Size  —  .60  x  .48.  See  Fig.  18, 
Plate  C. 

The  nesting  season  begins  about  the  middle  of  May,  and  the 
places  selected  may  well  cause  surprise,  nests  having  been  found 
in  the  skulls  of  cattle  lying  in  open  fields,  but  I  think  buildings 
are  most  often  chosen.  I  have  known  of  a  case  where  a  nest 
was  built  in  an  inhabited  room.  The  name  of  House  Wren  fits 
these  birds  to  perfection,  especially  during  the  breeding  season, 
when  they  may  be  seen  almost  invariably  within  a  short  distance 
of  a  building. 

722.    Winter  Wren  :  Troglodytes  hiemalis  Vieill. 


—  Upper  parts  reddish  brown,  more  or  less  barred  and 
slightly  spotted;  under  parts  brownish  gray,  barred,  par- 
ticularly on  the  sides;  tail  and  bill  short.     Length—  4.06. 
Breeding  Hange—Prom  the  Northern   States  northward,  and  in 
the  mountainous  regions,  southward  to  North  Carolina. 

The  nest,  which  is  placed  in  hollow  stumps  among  the  roots 
94 


16 


21 


P.ATE    C  - 

-Corr.n-.on  Eggs. 

1. 

Bluebird. 

7. 

Meadowlark. 

'2.      O/en-brd. 

17. 

Biack  and  White  Warbie- 

3. 

Carolina  Wren. 

9. 

Red-winged  BlacKoird. 

14.     Slate-colored  Jun 

o;  Snowbird. 

19. 

Chickadee. 

5. 

Orchard  Oriole. 

11. 

Wilson's  Thrusn. 

16.      Maryland  Yellow-throat. 

21. 

Parula  Warbler 

6. 

White-eyed  Vireo. 

Nests  in  Buildings,  Bridges,  Walls,  Etc. 

of  a  tree,  in  brush  heaps,  or  in  deserted  buildings,  is  of  "  small 
twigs,  with  moss  and  leaves  interwoven,  and  warmly  lined  with 
feathers  of  hawks,  crows,  grouse,  or  any  that  are  at  hand" 
(Davie).  4  to  7  eggs  are  laid,  varying  from  pure  white  with 
reddish  brown  and  purple  spots  to  creamy  white  with  but  few 
specks  of  reddish  brown.  Size — .69  x«49. 

Though  something  like  the  house  wren  in  appearance,  the 
habits  of  the  Winter  Wren  are  very  different;  instead  of  nesting 
near  the  habitations  of  man,  they  usually  select  places  away  from 
human  beings.  In  the  autumn  they  may  be  seen  hopping  about 
from  stone  to  stone  or  in  the  tangle  alongside  a  broken-down 
wall  in  the  vicinity  of  small  rapid-running  brooks,  generally 
solitary,  two  being  rarely  seen  together. 

The  breeding  season  begins  about  the  last  week  in  May. 

726.    Brown  Creeper:  Certhia  familiaris  americana 
(Bonap.) 

Eggs  white,  spotted  with  reddish  brown,  chiefly  at  the  larger 
end. 

See  Page  108,  Chapter  VI. 

761.    American  Robin:  Merula  migratoria  (Linn.) 

Eggs  greenish  blue.  Nests  sometimes  in  stone  walls  or 
buildings. 

See  Page  170,  Chapter  VIII. 


95 


Chapter  VI 

NESTS    IN    HOLES    IN    TREES,    STUMPS,    OR 
LOGS 

325.    Turkey  Vulture ;  Turkey  Buzzard :  Cathartes  aura 
(Linn.) 

Eggs  yellowish  or  grayish  white,  splashed  with  chocolate 
and  black,  chiefly  at  the  larger  end. 

See  Page  57,  Chapter  II. 

326.    Black  Vulture :  Catharista  atrata  (Bartr.) 

Eggs  grayish  or  bluish  white,  more  or  less  blotched  and 
spotted  with  dark  brown. 

See  Page  58,  Chapter  II. 

356.    Duck  Hawk:  Falco  peregrinus  anatum  (Bonap.) 

Eggs  creamy  white  or  light  reddish  brown,  with  dark  and 
light  chocolate  and  reddish  brown  blotches. 

See  Page  81,  Chapter  V. 

357.    Pigeon  Hawk:  Falco  columbarius  Linn. 

Eggs  light  cinnamon  or  creamy  white,  blotched,  spotted,  and 
clouded  with  chestnut  and  brown. 

See  Page  82,  Chapter  V. 

36O.    American  Sparrow  Hawk:    Falco  sparverius  Linn. 

Adult  $  — Upper  parts  chestnut  red  or  rufous  ;  lower  part  of  back 
barred  ;  head  bluish  ;  a  black  patch  beneath  eye,  and  another 
96 


Nests  in  Holes  in  Trees,  Stumps,  or  Logs 

back  of  ear  ;  tail  rufous,  with  a  broad  black  bar  and  tipped 

with  white  ;  under  parts  buff  and  pinkish  buff  shading  to 

white  and  spotted  with  black  on  the  sides. 
Adult  ?  — Upper  parts  duller  rufous  barred  black;  under  parts  dull 

buffy  white,  streaked  with  black  spots.     Length — 10.00. 
Breeding  Range — Throughout  the  Eastern  States. 

The  eggs  are  laid  in  a  hole  in  a  tree,  often  a  woodpecker's 
hole  being  used  ;  there  is  no  lining.  The  colour  of  the  eggs  varies 
greatly,  the  ground  colour  being  white,  buff,  or  pinkish  buff, 
marked  with  irregular  spots  and  blotches  of  dark  or  light  chestnut, 
brown,  or  chocolate,  sometimes  entirely  concealing  the  ground 
colour  at  the  larger  end.  Size — 1.35  x  1.15.  See  Fig.  3,  Plate  A. 

While  the  Sparrow  Hawk  may  be  said  to  nest  almost  exclu- 
sively in  the  hollow  of  a  tree,  there  have  been  instances  of  varia- 
tion from  this  rule,  eggs  having  been  found  "  in  crevices  in  rocks, 
in  holes  in  banks,  along  rivers,  or  nooks  about  buildings  "  (Davie). 

The  breeding  season  begins  about  the  middle  of  April.  Incu- 
bation occupies  about  three  weeks. 

365.    American  Barn  Owl :  Strix  pratincola  Bonap. 

Eggs  white. 

See  Page  82,  Chapter  V. 

368.    Barred  Owl:  Syrnium  nebulosum  (Forst.) 

Adult — Upper  parts  gray  or  grayish  brown,  marked  with  white 
and  drab;  under  parts  whitish,  the  breast  barred  and  the  belly 
streaked  ;  head  large  and  round,  without  ear  tufts;  feet  and 
toes  feathered.  Length — 20.00. 

Breeding  Range — Eastern  States  from  northern  Florida  northward. 

The  eggs  are  usually  deposited  in  a  hollow  in  a  tree,  at  some 
height  from  the  ground;  sometimes  old  crows'  or  hawks'  nests 
are  used.  Minot  writes,  "  Evidence  indicates  that  the  Barred  Owls 
usually  build  their  own  nest,  choosing  for  a  site  some  crotch  next  to 
the  trunk  of  a  pine  or  oak."  I  find  no  corroboration  of  this  state- 
ment, however,  though  this  may  possibly  be  the  case  in  some  parts 
of  the  country.  2  to  4  white  eggs  are  laid.  Size — 2.00  x  1.65. 
These  are  by  far  the  most  common  of  the  larger  owls  throughout 
the  Eastern  States.  They  breed  in  the  neighbourhood  of  New 
7  97 


Nests  in  Holes  in  Trees,  Stumps,  or  Logs 

York  about  the  middle  of  March;  the  same  hole  may  be  used  for 
many  years. 

368a.    Florida  Barred  Owl:  S.  n.  alleni  Ridgw. 

Breeding  Range — Florida,  Texas,  and  Louisiana. 

A  larger  and  darker  sub-species  of  the  more  northern  barred 
owl,  having  the  toes  but  scantily  feathered.  Nesting  habits  are 
probably  identical,  two  eggs  being  the  number  most  frequently 
laid. 

372.    Saw-whet  Owl;  Acadian  Owl:  Nyctala  acadica 
(Gmel.) 

Adult — Upper  parts  grayish,  streaked  and  spotted  with  white  ; 
under  parts  white,  with  few  broad  streaks  of  grayish  or  red- 
dish brown  ;  legs  and  feet  fully  feathered  ;  no  ear  tufts. 
Length — 8.00. 

Breeding  Range — Northern  New  York  and  northern  New  England, 
rarely  in  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut. 

The  white  eggs  are  laid  in  hollows  in  trees,  deserted  wood- 
peckers' and  squirrels'  nests,  also  in  crows'  and  even  herons'  nests  ; 
rarely  in  boxes  made  of  bark  and  fastened  to  a  tree,  at  some  height 
from  the  ground.  There  is  nothing  in  the  way  of  a  nest,  a  few 
feathers  from  the  parent  bird  being  sometimes  used.  4  to  6  and 
rarely  7  eggs  are  laid.  Size — 1.20  x  1.02. 

These  diminutive  owls  are  easily  recognised  by  their  size 
alone,  as  they  are  the  smallest  of  the  owls  found  in  the  Eastern 
States ;  they  are  strictly  nocturnal,  and  may  be  seen  during  the 
day  sitting  on  the  branch  of  hemlock,  spruce,  or  other  trees  afford- 
ing shade  from  the  bright  daylight. 

The  breeding  season  begins  about  the  end  of  March. 

373.    Screech  Owl :  Megascops  asio  (Linn.) 

Adult—  Either  red  or  gray,  independent  of  age  or  sex  ;  every  gra- 
dation between  the  extreme  red  and  gray  phases  may  be 
found.  Extreme  red  phase  :  Upper  parts  brilliant  rufous, 
streaked  with  black  ;  under  parts  white  or  very  light  gray, 
streaked  and  cross-marked  with  black,  particularly  on  the 
98 


Nests  in  Holes  in  Trees,  Stumps,  or  Logs 

upper  part  of  breast.  Extreme  gray  phase  :  Upper  parts 
cold  gray,  with  black  streaks  ;  under  parts  almost  white, 
with  black  streaks  and  cross-markings.  These  birds  have 
pronounced  ear  tufts,  sometimes  called  horns,  and  an  irregu- 
larly defined  black  circle  round  the  face  ;  eyes  various  shades 
of  light  yellow  ;  feet  nearly  covered  with  fine  hair-like 
feathers.  Length — 9.40. 

B teeding  Range — Throughout  the   Eastern    States   from    Georgia 
northward. 

The  eggs  are  generally  to  be  found  in  the  hollow  of  a  tree, 
rarely  in  a  barn  or  outhouse.  There  is  practically  no  nest,  but  a 
few  feathers,  together  with  some  small  chips,  rotten  wood,  rarely 
leaves  and  sticks,  serve  the  purpose.  4  to  6  and  sometimes  8 
white  eggs  are  laid.  Size — 1.45  x  1.22. 

An  old  apple  orchard  is  by  far  the  most  likely  place  for  the 
Screech  Owl's  nest,  and  the  most  likely  orchard  is  one  situated 
near  a  farm  where  mice  are  plentiful.  The  hole  selected  for  the 
nest  may  be  within  five  or  six  feet  of  the  ground  or  up  high  in 
the  tree.  Before  examining  the  inside  of  a  hole,  much  unneces- 
sary trouble  may  be  avoided  by  noticing  whether  there  is  a  cob- 
web over  the  entrance  ;  if  there  is,  it  shows  that  the  hole  is 
uninhabited  by  any  bird. 

The  breeding  season  begins  about  the  end  of  March  or  the 
first  week  in  April.  The  young  birds  can  be  easily  reared,  but 
do  not  make  good  pets,  as  they  show  a  most  unamiable  disposi- 
tion, and  do  not  become  really  tame.  The  fact  that  they  practise 
cannibalism  is  also  somewhat  against  keeping  them  as  pets. 

373a.    Florida  Screech  Owl:  M.  a.  floridanus  Ridgw. 

These  resemble  the  common  screech  owl,  but  are  rather 
smaller  and  darker  in  colour.  Nesting  habits  probably  identical. 

Breeding  Range — Florida,  northward  to  the  southern  part  of  South 
Carolina. 


382.    Carolina  Paroquet:    Conurus    carolinensis  (Linn.) 

Eggs  white. 

See  Page  1 34,  Chapter  VIII. 
99 


Nests  in  Holes  in  Trees,  Stumps,  or  Logs 


392.    Ivory-billed  Woodpecker:  Campephilus  principalis 
(Linn.) 

Adult  $  —  Upper  parts  black,  with  two  white  stripes  beginning 
at  the  bill  and  meeting  on  the  back  ;  the  wings  have  the 
secondaries  white,  so  that  in  flight  these  seem  to  be  a  broad 
white  band  across  the  bird  ;  crest  scarlet ;  under  parts  black  ; 
bill  white. 

Adult  ?  —  Has  the  crest  black,  but  is  otherwise  the  same.  Length 
— 20.00. 

Breeding  Range — The  Gulf  States  and  lower  Mississippi  Valley. 

The  nest  is  in  a  hole  in  the  upper  part  of  a  tall  tree  ;  eggs 
white,  complement  undetermined.  Size — 1.45  x  i.oo. 

This,  the  largest  as  well  as  the  wildest  of  our  woodpeckers, 
has  been  but  little  observed  during  the  breeding  season.  In 
former  years  it  was  found  in  North  Carolina,  and  even  as  far  north 
as  Indiana  ;  but  the  presence  of  man  has  forced  it  farther  south, 
and  now  it  is  to  be  found  chiefly  in  the  dense  cypress  swamps 
of  the  Gulf  States,  where  in  some  parts  it  is  fairly  common, 
though  always  shy  and  difficult  of  approach.  The  breeding 
season  begins  in  all  probability  towards  the  end  of  March. 


393.    Hairy  Woodpecker:  Dryobates viilosus  (Linn.) 

Adult  $  —  Upper  parts  black,  divided  by  a  broad  white  line  ;  head 
black,  with  nape  deep  scarlet,  and  a  broad  white  line  above 
and  another  below  the  eye  ;  wings  spotted  with  white  ; 
under  parts  white. 

Adult  ?  —  Lacks  the  scarlet  on  the  head.     Length — 9.40. 

Breeding  Range — From  North  Carolina  northward.  The  eggs  are 
laid  in  a  hole  in  a  tree  ;  usually  a  dead  or  partly  dead  tree  is 
chosen,  a  new  hole  being  made  every  year.  4  to  5  and 
sometimes  6  white  eggs  are  laid.  Size — .97  x  .70. 

This  bird  might  easily  be  mistaken  for  the  downy  wood- 
pecker, its  markings  and  colour  being  very  similar ;  it  is,  how- 
ever, so  much  larger  that  there  should  be  little  difficulty  in  its 
identification.  When  searching  for  a  tree  suitable  for  their  nest- 
ing purposes,  these  birds  commence  excavations  in  a  great  num- 
ber of  places,  often  making  holes  several  inches  deep  before  de- 


Nests  in  Holes  in  Trees,  Stumps,  or  Logs 

ciding  for  or  against  some  particular  tree  ;  and  1  believe  that  if, 
after  having  found  one  that  is  thoroughly  suitable,  they  imagine 
themselves  observed  while  excavating,  they  will  immediately 
abandon  the  tree. 

The  breeding  season  begins  rather  before  the  middle  of  May. 

393b.    Southern  Hairy  Woodpecker:  D.  v.  audubonii 
(Swains.) 

A  smaller  sub-species  of  the  hairy  woodpecker  found  south 
of  North  Carolina.  Nesting  habits  and  eggs  identical. 

394.    Southern  Downy  Woodpecker :    Dryobates   pube- 
scens  (Linn.) 

and 

394c.    Downy  Woodpecker :  Dryobates  pubescens  medi- 
anus  (Swains.) 

Adult  6  —  Upper  parts  black,  with  a  white  line  down  the  back  ; 
head  black,  with  a  white  line  above  and  another  below  the 
eye  ;  back  of  head  deep  scarlet  ;  under  parts  white. 

Adult  ?  — No  scarlet  on  the  head.     Length— 6.83. 

Breeding  Range — Southern  Downy  Woodpecker,  Florida  to  South 
Carolina.  Downy  Woodpecker  from  there  northward. 

Eggs  in  a  hole,  usually  in  a  partly  decayed  tree,  apple  trees 
being  perhaps  the  favourites,  a  fresh  hole  being  made  each  season. 
4  to  6  white  eggs  are  laid  on  the  bed  of  very  fine  chips  at  the 
bottom  of  the  hole  ;  the  entrance  is  very  small  and  usually  per- 
fectly round,  about  one  and  a  quarter  inches  in  diameter.  Size  of 
eggs— .80  x  .57. 

The  Downy  Woodpeckers  are  the  smallest  and  undoubtedly 
the  tamest  of  the  members  of  their  family  found  in  the  Eastern 
States.  In  apple  orchards  they  are  generally  to  be  found  during 
the  summer  months,  and  there  it  is  that  they  choose  their  nesting 
tree,  laying  their  eggs  about  the  first  of  May. 

395.    Red-cockaded  Woodpecker:  Dryobates  borealis 
(Vieill.) 

Adult  $ — Upper  parts  black  barred  with  white  ;  wings  spotted 
with  white  ;  a  scarlet  tuft  on  either  side  of  the  head,  back  of 


Nests  in  Holes  in  Trees,  Stumps,  or  Logs 

the  ear  ;  under  parts  white  ;  a  black  line  from  bill  to  shoulder, 
and  blackish  spots  and  bars  on  the  sides  and  below  the  tail. 

Adult  ?  —  Has  no  scarlet,  otherwise  similar.     Length — 8.40. 

Breeding  Range — From  Virginia  southward. 

The  eggs,  3  to  5,  rarely  6,  are  white,  and  are  deposited  in  a 
hole  in  a  tree  or  stump,  usually  at  a  considerable  height.  Size  of 
eggs— .91  x  .68. 

These  birds  are  found  in  the  pine  regions  of  the  south,  where 
they  are  said  to  breed  in  March. 


4OO.    Arctic  Three-toed  Woodpecker :  Picoides  arcticus 
(Swains.) 

Adult  $  —  Upper  parts  black  ;  wings  spotted  with  white;  crown 
yellow  ;  white  line  back  of  and  in  front  of  eye  ;  under  parts 
white,  barred  on  the  sides  with  blackish  ;  three  toes,  two  of 
which  are  in  front. 

Adult  $ — No  yellow  crown.     Length — 9.50. 

Breeding  Range — From  slightly  south  of  the  northern  boundary  of 
the  United  States  northward. 

Eggs  in  a  hole,  usually  in  an  evergreen  tree,  and  not  far  from 
the  ground.  4  to  6  white  eggs  are  laid.  Size — i.oo  x  .70. 

The  Arctic  Three-toed  Woodpecker  is  found  chiefly  in  the 
large  coniferous  forests  in  the  mountainous  regions.  The  breeding 
season  begins  probably  during  the  early  part  of  June. 


4O1.    American  or  Banded  Three-toed  Woodpecker: 
Picoides  americanus  Brehm. 

Adult  $  —  Upper  parts  black  and  white  barred  ;  orange  patch  on 
head ;  under  parts  white,  barred  black  on  the  sides  ;  three 
toes,  two  being  in  front. 

Adult  ?  — Similar,  without  the  yellow  crown.     Length — 8.75. 

Breeding  Range — Rarely  south  of  the  northern  boundary  of  the 
United  States. 

The  eggs,  which  are  white,  are  deposited  in  the  hollow  of  a 
tree.  Size — .93  x  .70.  There  are  only  isolated  cases  of  this  bird 
nesting  within  the  United  States.  The  breeding  habits  are  pro- 
bably very  similar  to  those  of  the  arctic  three-toed  woodpecker. 


THE    DOWNY    WOODPECKERS    HOME. 

In  the  dead  branch  of  an  apple  tree. 
( Upper  hole  shows  entrance  to  nest,  made  by  the  bird.     The  lower  opening  <was  made  to  shcftv  the  eggs. ) 


Nests  in  Holes  in  Trees,  Stumps,  or  Logs 

4O2.    Yellow-bellied  Sapsucker:  Sphyrapicus  varius 
(Linn.) 

Adult  $  — Upper  parts  black,  white,  and  pale  lemon ;  top  of  head 
scarlet ;  a  broad  white  line  from  bill  beneath  the  eye  ;  throat 
deep  scarlet,  bordered  with  black  ;  black  also  on  the  breast ; 
belly  pale  lemon  yellow;  side  streaked  roughly  with  blackish. 

Adult  ?  — No  scarlet ;  the  breast  grayish.     Length — 8. 56. 

Breeding  Range — From  the  northern  United  States  northward. 

The  nest  is  in  a  hole  in  a  tree,  usually  from  30  to  45  feet  from 
the  ground.  5  to  7  not  very  highly  polished  white  eggs  are  laid. 
Size — .85  x  .60. 

In  speaking  of  this  bird,  Mr.  Brewster  mentions  the  dead 
birch  as  being  preferred  to  any  other  tree  for  nesting  purposes, 
and  the  locality  chosen  is  usually  not  far  from  water. 

4O5.    Pileated  Woodpecker :  Ceophlceus  pileatus  (Linn.) 

Adult& — Upper  parts  black,  and  line  below  cheek  scarlet;  rest 
of  head  mostly  whitish  ;  under  parts  blackish  ;  throat  white. 

Adult  ?  —Without  the  red.     Length— 17.00. 

Breeding  Range — Rare  throughout  the  Eastern  States  from  Canada 
southward,  except  in  the  thickly  wooded  regions  remote 
from  civilization. 

The  excavation  for  the  nest  is  usually  in  the  upper  part  of 
a  tall  tree,  sometimes  as  much  as  eighty  feet  from  the  ground. 
3  to  5  glossy  white  eggs  are  laid.  Size — 1.30  x  .96. 

This  is  the  second  largest  of  our  woodpeckers  ;  in  fact,  the 
novice  has  often  mistaken  him  for  the  ivory-billed,  but  he  differs 
greatly  in  his  habits,  and  is  much  less  wild.  In  Maine  I  have 
watched  them  hammering  at  the  large  evergreen  trees  within  a 
few  feet  of  where  I  was  standing,  and  they  did  not  appear  to 
object  to  my  presence. 

4O6.    Red-headed  Woodpecker:  Melanerpes 
erythrocephalus  (Linn.) 

Adult — Entire  head  and  throat  crimson  ;  back,  tail,  and  primaries 
black  ;  rump,  tail  coverts,  and  belly  white.  Length — 9.75. 

Breeding  Range — From  northern  New  York  southward  ;  rare  in 
New  England. 

103 


Nests  in  Holes  in  Trees,  Stumps,  or  Logs 

4  to  6  glossy  white  eggs  are  laid  in  a  hole  in  either  tree  or 
stump,  or  even  telegraph  pole.  Size — i.oo  x  .78. 

These  birds,  in  their  bright  tricolour  of  red,  white,  and  black, 
are  conspicuous  wherever  found  ;  it  is  difficult  to  imagine  a  much 
more  striking  plumage  ;  whether  in  the  air,  against  the  tree  trunk, 
or  in  the  foliage,  one  of  their  broad  patches  of  colour  is  sure  to  be 
visible. 

In  some  respects  these  woodpeckers  almost  resemble  fly- 
catchers ;  they  sit  on  an  isolated  tree  or  stump,  making  short 
sallies  after  insects  ;  these  they  catch  with  great  dexterity  in  mid- 
air, invariably  returning  to  the  same  place,  which  is  sometimes 
within  a  few  feet  of  their  nest.  The  breeding  holes,  which  are 
new  each  season,  are  often  in  large,  live  trees  of  almost  any 
variety,  but  I  think  stumps  and  dead  or  partly  dead  trees  are  per- 
haps preferred  ;  in  some  instances  the  eggs  have  been  deposited 
in  buildings. 

The  breeding  season  begins  rather  before  the  middle  of  May. 


4O9.    Red-bellied  Woodpecker:  Melanerpes  carolinus 
(Linn.) 

Adult  $  — Upper  parts  black  and  white  barred  ;  head  and  neck 
crimson  ;  under  parts  whitish. 

Adult  $  — Back  of  head  and  nostrils  crimson.     Length — 9. 50. 

Breeding  Range — The  Eastern  States,  ''from  Florida  to  Maryland, 
and  in  the  interior  to  Ontario  and  southern  Dakota"  (Chap- 
man). 

The  nests  are  in  holes  in  trees,  usually  less  than  twenty  feet 
from  the  ground.  The  eggs,  4  to  6  in  number,  are  white. 
Size — i.oo  x  .78. 

The  breeding  season  begins  early  in  May. 


412.    Flicker;  Golden-winged  Woodpecker:  Colaptes 
auratus  (Linn.) 

Adult  3 — Upper  parts  grayish  brown,    with   narrow  bars   of 

black  ;  rump  white  ;  tail  black,  with  yellow  shafts  ;  head 

gray,  with  a  scarlet  band  across  the  neck  and  black  patch 

below  eye  ;  primaries  black  above,  with  yellow  shafts,  and 

104 


Nests  in  Holes  in  Trees,  Stumps,  or  Logs 

yellow  beneath  ;  under  parts  light  pinkish  brown,  shading 
into  whitish  on  the  belly,  with  numerous  black  spots  ;  black 
crescent  across  upper  part  of  breast. 

Adult  $  — Has  no  black  below  the  eye.     Length — 12.00. 

Breeding  Range — Throughout  the  Eastern  States. 

The  eggs  are  white,  and  vary  greatly  in  number,  from  4  to 
9  being  common  numbers  ;  they  are  laid  in  holes  excavated  by 
the  birds  themselves,  in  natural  cavities,  and  in  deserted  holes 
made  either  by  their  own  species  or  by  other  woodpeckers.  Any 
tree  may  be  chosen,  but  the  apple  tree  is  perhaps  the  favourite. 
Size — 1. 10  x.90. 

The  Golden-winged  Woodpecker  is  one  of  the  most  hand- 
somely coloured  and  best  known  of  the  Eastern  woodpeckers, 
nearly  every  orchard  containing  a  pair  or  more  during  the  breed- 
ing season,  which  begins  early  in  May.  The  nests  may  be  found 
within  four  feet  of  the  ground,  but  more  frequently  from  ten  to 
twenty-five  and  sometimes  as  much  as  sixty  feet  high  ;  dead 
stumps  or  almost  any  sort  of  tree  may  be  chosen.  Probably  no 
other  woodpecker  found  in  the  Eastern  States  will  use  an  old 
deserted  nest ;  the  golden-winged,  however,  does  so  frequently. 
When  a  new  hole  is  to  be  made,  both  male  and  female  take  turns 
at  excavating,  the  work  being  done  at  odd  times  during  the  day, 
and  not  only  in  the  early  morning  and  evening,  which  are  the 
working  times  of  the  downy  woodpecker.  This  unfortunate 
bird  is  subjected  to  various  nicknames,  some  of  which  are  mis- 
nomers, such  as  the  name  "Yellow-hammer,"  which  is  the 
name  of  a  European  bunting  (Emberiza  citrinella) ;  and  some  of 
the  names  given  him,  such  as  "Flicker,"  "  High-hole,"  "Wood- 
cock," "  Pigeon  Woodpecker,"  and  "  Clape,"  are  not  altogether 
appropriate,  and  certainly  not  euphonious. 

The  nesting  season  near  New  York  begins  early  in  May. 


452.    Crested  or  Great  Crested  Flycatcher:  Myiarchus 
crinitus  (Linn.) 

Aault — Upper  parts  olive  brown  or  gray  ;  tail  and  edges  of  pri- 
maries chestnut ;  feathers  on  crown  rather  long,  forming  a 
short  crest ;  under  parts  pale  gray  on  throat  and  breast, 
shading  into  pale  lemon  yellow  on  the  belly.  Length — 9.01. 

Breeding  Range — Throughout  the  Eastern  States. 

105 


Nests  in  Holes  in  Trees,  Stumps,  or  Logs 

Nest  in  a  hollow  in  a  tree  ;  it  is  rather  bulky,  composed 
of  grasses,  weeds,  feathers,  and  frequently  cast-off  snake  skins. 
The  eggs,  3  to  6  in  number,  are  buff-colored,  with  numerous 
light  and  rather  dark  wine-colored  or  purplish  longitudinal 
streaks  and  scratches.  Size — .82  x  .62.  See  Fig.  2,  Plate  C. 

This  noisy  flycatcher  is  in  some  places  a  very  common  bird. 
He  chooses  almost  any  sort  of  hole  for  his  nest,  the  size  making 
but  little  difference  to  him  ;  neither  does  he  seem  very  particular 
as  to  the  kind  of  tree,  though  most  of  the  nests  I  have  found  were 
in  dead  or  partly  dead  apple  trees.  Once  I  knew  of  a  bluebird's 
nest  containing  young  about  four  days  old  ;  near  this  nest  a  pair 
of  Crested  Flycatchers  were  constantly  to  be  seen.  Day  after  day 
I  visited  the  place  in  order  to  watch  and  photograph  the  young 
bluebirds,  and  my  friends  the  flycatchers  were  invariably  either 
on  some  part  of  the  tree  or  very  near  to  it.  This  was  during  the 
third  week  in  May,  and  therefore  rather  early  for  them  to  be 
nesting.  A  week  after  the  bluebirds  had  flown,  the  flycatchers 
commenced  building,  placing  their  collection  of  material  on  the 
top  of  the  bluebird's  abandoned  nest.  Usually  the  hole  chosen 
is  not  more  than  twenty  feet  from  the  ground,  and  often  not 
more  than  six  feet. 

The  nesting  season  commences  about  the  last  week  in  May. 

511.    Purple  Crackle;  Crow  Blackbird:  Quiscalus 
quiscula  (Linn.) 

Eggs  greenish,  dashed  and  streaked  with  reddish  brown  or 
black  ;  very  variable. 

See  Page  140,  Chapter  VIII. 

51  la.    Florida  Crackle  :  Q.  q.  aglaeus  (Baird.) 

Eggs  similar  to  the  preceding. 

See  Page  140,  Chapter  VIII. 

51  Ib.    Bronzed  Crackle:  Q.  q.  aeneus  (Ridgw.) 

Eggs  greenish  or  dull  bluish,  scrawled,  blotched,  and  spotted 
with  browns  ;  very  variable. 

See  Page  141,  Chapter  VIII. 
106 


NEST   AND    EGGS   OF    CRESTED    FLYCATCHER 

Opening  made  to  show   nest 


Nests  in  Holes  in  Trees,  Stumps,  or  Logs 

614.    White-bellied  or  Tree  Swallow:  Tachycineta 
bicolor  (Vieill.) 

Eggs  white. 

See  Page  89,  Chapter  V. 


637.    Prothonotary  Warbler :  Protonotaria  citrea 
(Bodd.) 

Adult  $  — Upper  parts  greenish  ;  entire  head  and  under  parts 
brilliant  orang'e,  lighter  on  the  belly. 

Adult  ? — Not  so  richly  coloured.  Length — 5.50.  See  Fig.  20, 
Plate  D. 

Breeding  Range — From  Illinois  and  Virginia  southward,  rare 
farther  north.  The  nest  of  leaves,  twigs,  moss,  and  fine 
roots  is  placed  in  a  hole  in  a  tree  or  stump,  in  the  bottom- 
lands. 4  to  6  and  rarely  7  eggs  are  laid  ;  they  are  glossy 
white  or  pale  buff,  "spotted,  blotched,  and  dotted  with 
rich  chestnut  brown  ;  in  some  the  ground  colour  being 
almost  obscured  by  the  markings"  (Davie).  Size — .73 
x  .52. 

These  beautiful  Warblers  frequent  streams  and  swamps, 
building  their  nests  in  stumps  or  trees  that  overhang  or  stand  in 
the  water,  the  deserted  nests  of  the  woodpeckers  and  chicka- 
dees being  in  much  demand  ;  the  hole  selected  is  very  low,  some- 
times within  two  feet,  and  seldom  more  than  fourteen  feet,  of  the 
ground.  The  breeding  season  is  in  May. 


7 1  8.    Carolina  Wren  :  Thryothorus  ludovicianus  (Lath.) 

Eggs  white  or  pinkish  white,  with  numerous  pinkish  brown 
and  lilac  gray  markings,  the  ground  colour  being  sometimes 
concealed. 

See  Page  93,  Chapter  V. 

7  1  8a.    Florida  Wren  :  T.  1.  miamensis  Ridgw. 

Eggs  similar  to  the  preceding. 

See  Page  93,  Chapter  V. 
107 


Nests  in  Holes  in  Trees,  Stumps,  or  Logs 


719.    Bewick's  Wren:  Thryothorus  bewickii  (Aud.) 

Eggs  white  or  pinkish,  with  numerous  reddish  brown  and 
purplish  spots  and  specks,  more  thickly  distributed  about  the 
larger  end. 

See  Page  93,  Chapter  V. 

721.    House  Wren:  Troglodytes  aedon  Vieill. 

Eggs  usually  so  thickly  covered  with  reddish  brown  or 
chocolate  markings  that  the  white  or  whitish  ground  colour  is 
partly  or  entirely  hidden. 

See  Page  94,  Chapter  V. 


722.    House  Wren  :  Troglodytes  hiemalis  Vieill. 

Eggs  white  or  creamy  white,  with  reddish  brown  and  pur- 
ple spots  and  specks. 

See  Page  94,  Chapter  V. 


726.    Brown  Creeper :  Certhia  familiaris  americana 
(Bonap.) 

Adult — Upper  parts  brownish  gray,  white,  and  buff,  somewhat 
barred  ;  under  parts  white  ;  tail  stiff,  and  sharp  at  the  points; 
bill  very  pointed  and  with  a  slight  downward  curve.  Length 
-5.66. 

Breeding  Range — The  northern  United  States,  northward. 

The  nest  is  usually  placed  inside  the  loose  bark  of  a  tree  or 
stump — sometimes  within  the  rift  of  a  tree  that  has  been  struck  by 
lightning — and  is  composed  of  felted  material,  soft  feathers,  moss, 
twigs,  spider  cocoons,  etc.  5  to  8  eggs  are  laid ;  they  are  creamy 
white,  spotted  with  reddish  brown  chiefly  at  the  larger  end. 
Size— .59  x  .47. 

Ever  busy  with  his  endless  task  of  climbing  tree  after  tree 
in  his  search  for  the  necessaries  of  life,  the  Brown  Creeper  lives  up 
to  his  name  ;  he  methodically  creeps  up  a  tree  till  he  arrives  at 

108 


Nests  in  Holes  in  Trees,  Stumps,  or  Logs 

the  place  where  the  bark  is  smooth,  then  he  drops  either  to  an- 
other branch  or  to  the  foot  of  the  next  tree,  and  there  he  goes 
through  just  the  same  performance  again;  this  continues,  as  far  as 
one  can  judge,  from  early  morning  till  nearly  dark.  During  the 
breeding  season,  which  begins  about  the  middle  of  May,  this  bird 
has  a  pleasing,  though  short,  song. 

727.    White-breasted  Nuthatch:  Sitta  carolinensis  Lath. 

Adult  3 — Upper  parts  gray;  crown  black,  extending  partly  down 

the  back  ;  under  parts  white;  under  tail  feathers  and  lower 

part  of  belly  light  chestnut. 
Adult  ? — Crown  and  upper  part  of  back  dark  gray.    Length — 

6.07. 
Breeding  Range — Throughout  the   Eastern  States  from   Georgia 

northward. 

The  nest,  of  feathers,  leaves,  and  hair,  is  placed  in  a  hole  in  a 
tree,  a  natural  cavity,  or  the  abandoned  excavation  made  by  a 
woodpecker  may  be  used  indiscriminately,  the  height  from  the 
ground  being  from  sixty  feet  downwards. 

The  eggs,  numbering  5  to  9,  or  even  10,  are  creamy  or  pinkish 
white,  with  numerous  spots  and  specks  of  light  reddish,  yellowish, 
and  purplish  brown,  rather  more  thickly  distributed  about  the 
larger  end.  Size — .77  x  .56.  See  Fig.  4,  Plate  C. 

The  White-breasted  Nuthatch  may  be  easily  distinguished 
from  other  nuthatches  by  his  superior  size  and  the  absence  of 
black  on  the  cheek.  The  breeding  season  begins  about  the  middle 
of  April,  two  broods  being  frequently  reared. 


727b.    Florida  White-breasted  Nuthatch  :  S.  c.  atkinsi 
Scott. 

A  smaller  sub-species  of  the  common  white-breasted  nut- 
hatch, the  female  resembling  the  male  in  having  the  black  crown. 
Range,  Florida  and  South  Carolina. 

728.    Red-breasted  Nuthatch:  Sitta  canadensis  Linn. 

Adult  $ — Upper  parts  gray;  head  black,  with  a  white  line  over 
the  eye;  under  parts  buffy  red,  except  the  throat,  which  is 
white. 

109 


Nests  in  Holes  in  Trees,  Stumps,  or  Logs 

Adult  ?  —The  black  of  head  replaced  by  gray.     Length— 4.62. 

Breeding  Range — "  May  be  roughly  defined  as  embracing  the  entire 
spruce-forested  regions  of  northern  New  England,  including 
portions  of  Berkshire  and  Worcester  counties,  Massachusetts  " 
(Brewster). 

The  nest,  of  fine  grass,  is  in  a  cavity,  usually  in  a  decayed  tree, 
from  four  to  fifteen  feet  from  the  ground.  4  to  6  eggs  are  laid; 
they  are  creamy  white,  with  numerous  reddish  brown  and  laven- 
der spots.  Size — .60  x  .48. 

In  writing  of  this  small  nuthatch,  Davie  mentions  a  curious 
fact  connected  with  its  nests : ' '  The  bark  at  their  entrance  is  coated 
with  fir-balsam  or  pitch,  from  an  inch  to  three  or  four  inches 
around  the  hole.  In  one  instance  the  pitch  extended  down  for 
twenty-one  inches,  and  was  stuck  full  of  the  red  breast  feathers 
of  the  nuthatches."  The  breeding  season  begins  in  June,  occa- 
sionally two  broods  being  reared. 

729.    Brown-headed  Nuthatch  :  Sitta  pusilla  (Lath.) 

Adult — Upper  parts  gray  ;  top  and  back  of  head  grayish  brown, 
with  a  spot  of  white  over  the  nape  ;  under  parts  light  gray 
or  whitish.  Length— 4.50. 

Breeding  Range — From  Virginia  southward. 

Nest  placed  usually  in  a  hole,  made  by  the  birds  themselves, 
in  a  stump  or  tree,  within  a  few  inches  of,  or  as  much  as  sixty 
feet  from,  the  ground. 

It  is  composed  of  "  short  pieces  of  grass,  bits  of  cotton  wool, 
feathers,  and  the  leaf-like  substance  of '  pine  seed  leaves  ' "  (Davie). 
The  eggs,  4  to  6  in  number,  are  more  or  less  heavily  spotted 
and  blotched  with  reddish  brown  and  pale  lilac.  Size — .56  x  .46. 

The  Brown-Headed  is  the  smallest  of  the  Eastern  nuthatches, 
and  is  readily  identified  by  the  white  spot  on  its  neck.  Breeding 
season  in  March. 


731.    Tufted  Titmouse:  Parus  bicolor  Linn. 

Adult—  Upper  parts  gray  ;  forehead  black  ;  crest  gray  ;  under 
parts  light  gray,  to  white  on  the  belly  ;  the  sides  washed 
with  reddish  brown.  Length — 6.00. 

Breeding  Range — From  northern  New  Jersey  southward. 


Nests  in  Holes  in  Trees,  Stumps,  or  Logs 

The  nest,  simply  a  collection  of  short  hair,  moss,  leaves, 
and  strips  of  bark,  is  placed  most  frequently  in  a  deserted  wood- 
pecker's hole,  or  in  a  natural  cavity  in  a  tree,  usually  one  that  is 
dead.  4  to  8  eggs  are  laid  ;  they  are  white  or  creamy,  with 
large  spots  and  specks  of  reddish  and  purplish  brown,  chiefly  at 
the  larger  end.  Size — .74  x  .52. 

These  delightful  little  birds  may  be  seen  in  the  somewhat 
damp  woods,  usually  in  company  with  the  ever-busy  chickadee. 
They  breed  in  April. 


735.    Chickadee:  Parus  atricapillus  Linn. 

Adult—  Upper  part  of  head  and  nape  black  ;  back  gray  ;  under 
parts,  throat  black,  breast  white,  shading  into  grayish  or 
buff  on  the  sides  and  belly.  Length — 5.27. 

Breeding  Range — "  From  southern  Illinois  and  Pennsylvania  north- 
ward to  Labrador,  and  southward  along  the  Alleghanies  to 
North  Carolina  "  (Chapman). 

The  nest  is  made  of  moss,  feathers,  wool,  plant  fibre,  fur, 
and  sometimes  entirely  of  short  hairs.  It  is  placed  in  a  hole 
which  may  be  either  a  natural  cavity,  a  deserted  woodpecker's 
nest,  or  made  by  themselves  ;  in  the  latter  event  they  choose  a 
decayed  tree,  by  preference  the  white  birch.  The  hole  is  seldom 
more  than  seventeen  feet  from  the  ground.  The  eggs  number 
from  5  to  8  ;  they  are  white,  sparsely  marked  with  light  brown, 
purplish,  and  lilac  spots  and  specks,  chiefly  at  the  larger  end. 
Size — .57  x  .47.  See  Fig.  19,  Plate  C. 

These  little  acrobats  of  the  forest,  with  their  cheerful  notes 
and  confidential  manners,  are  among  the  most  delightful  of  our 
bird  friends;  they  have  but  little  fear  of  man,  and  their  restless 
hopping  from  bough  to  bough,  standing  one  moment  on  the 
twig  and  the  next  moment  turning  over  and  hanging  beneath 
it,  ever  seaching  for  food,  and  uttering  at  intervals  that  note 
so  peculiar  to  themselves,  is  a  constant  source  of  interest  and 
amusement  to  the  onlooker.  The  eggs  may  be  found  from 
about  the  middle  of  May,  near  New  York.  Damp  woods  and 
woodland  swamps  or  ponds  are  the  localities  to  which  they 
retire  during  the  nesting  season.  The  young  resemble  the  adult 
birds. 

in 


Nests  in  Holes  in  Trees,  Stumps,  or  Logs 

736.    Carolina  Chickadee  :  Parus  carolinensus  Aud. 

A  Southern  species  of  the  chickadee,  its  smaller  size  being 
the  most  distinctive  point  of  difference.  Length— 4.06  to  4.75. 

Breeding  Range — From  central  New  Jersey  and  Illinois  southward. 
Nesting  habits  and  eggs  similar  to  the  preceding. 

74O.    Hudsonian  Chickadee:   Parus  hudsonicus  Forst. 

Very  similar  to  the  chickadee,  the  principal  differences  be- 
ing upper  part  of  head  brown  instead  of  black  ;  back  brownish 
gray  ;  sides  chestnut. 

Breeding  Range — Northward  from  the  northern  part  of  New  Eng- 
land, and  probably  in  the  Adirondacks. 

Nesting  habits  very  similar  to  those  of  the  chickadee. 

766.    Bluebird:  Sialia  sialis  (Linn.) 

Adult  $  —  Upper  parts  intense  blue ;  under  parts  terra  cotta,  belly 

whitish. 

Adults  —  Grayish  blue,  sides  and  breast  lighter.     Length — 7.01. 
Immature^, — Bird  three  months  old,  upper  parts  grayish  blue, 

spotted  with  pale  gray  ;  wings  and  tail  blue  ;  upper  part  of 

breast  terra  cotta  ;  the  centre  of  each  feather  buffy  white  ; 

lower  part  of  breast  and  sides  terra  cotta  ;  belly  whitish. 
Breeding  Range — From  the  Gulf  States  northward.     The  nest  is 

of  grass,  placed  in  a  hole  in  a  tree  or  in  a  bird-box.     3  to  6 

pale  blue,  sometimes  white,  eggs  are  laid.     Size — .84  x  .62. 

See  Fig.  i,  Plate  C. 

When  the  song  of  the  Bluebird  is  heard,  we  who  love  not 
the  cold  weather  are  glad,  for  we  know  that  in  a  few  weeks  the 
frost  will  leave  the  ground  and  the  pure  white  flower  of  the 
blpodroot  will  lift  its  leaf-encircled  head  from  the  damp,  dead 
leaves  of  the  year  that  has  past.  But  that  is  not  our  only  reason 
for  gladness  ;  we  look  on  the  bluebird  as  a  friend,  one  that  spends 
his  summers  near  us,  leaving  only  when  the  frosts  of  late  Novem- 
ber come  to  tell  him  that  'tis  time  to  go  south,  as  food  is  becom- 
ing scarce.  He  is  my  favourite  bird  ;  and  while  I  am  writing  of 

112 


NEST   AND    EGGS   OF    BLUEBIRD    IN    THE    BRANCH    OF   AN    APPLE   TREE 
An  opening  was  made  so  that  the  nest  might  be  seen 


Nests  in  Holes  in  Trees,  Stumps,  or  Logs 

him,  a  pet  one,  but  three  months  old,  is  sitting  on  my  paper, 
seeming  to  wonder  what  I  am  doing,  and  why  I  do  not  play  with 
him.  He  nips  my  pencil,  but  I  pay  no  attention  to  him  ;  then  he 
tries  to  creep  up  my  sleeve,  and  still  I  pay  no  attention  ;  so,  dis- 
gusted, he  flies  off  to  search  for  ants  or  other  small  insects.  After 
a  time  I  raise  my  hand  and  call  ;  back  he  comes  like  a  flash,  and, 
hovering  more  like  a  large  moth  than  a  bird,  he  perches  on  my 
fingers,  singing  at  the  same  time  a  soft  little  song  that  is  his 
method  of  speech.  Having  a  bird  that  is  so  thoroughly  com- 
panionable makes  me  regard  all  bluebirds  with  the  greatest  pos- 
sible affection. 

Near  New  York  the  breeding  season  begins  early  in  April ; 
two  broods  are  reared  during  the  season.  The  young  remain  in 
the  nest  until  about  fifteen  days  old.  It  is  noticeable  that  their 
claws  are  exceedingly  sharp  ;  this  is,  in  all  probability,  that  they 
may  be  able  to  climb  out  of  the  hole  in  which  their  nest  is  placed. 
8 


Chapter    VII 
SEMI-PENSILE,  PENSILE  OR   HANGING  NESTS 

465.    Acadian  or  Green-crested  Flycatcher:  Empidonax 
virescens  (Vieill.) 

Adult — Upper  parts  olive  green ;  wings  and  tail  dark  brownish 
black ;  under  parts  greenish  white  on  the  breast  to  pale  yel- 
low on  sides  of  belly ;  throat  and  belly  white.  Length — 
5-75- 

Breeding  Range — The  Eastern  States  from  Connecticut  south- 
ward. 

Davie,  in  speaking  of  the  nest  of  the  Acadian  Flycatcher,  says: 
"  In  the  manner  of  attachment  it  resembles  the  nests  of  the  vireos, 
being  fastened  by  the  rim,  while  the  bottom  is  unsupported ; " 
it  is  made  of  grasses,  weeds,  seeds,  and  shreds  of  bark,  and  is 
frequently  suspended  over  running  water.  The  eggs,  numbering 
only  2  or  3,  are  buff,  with  spots  and  specks  of  reddish  brown, 
chiefly  round  the  larger  end.  Size — .74  x  .54. 

These  birds  are  found  mostly  in  the  dense  forest  regions, 
where  they  breed  early  in  June.  The  nests  are  often  found  in 
the  witch-hazel  bush. 

498.    Red-winged  Blackbird :  Agelaius  phceniceus  Linn. 

Eggs  pale  greenish  blue  or  pearly  white  with  either  blotches 
or  scrawls  of  dark  purplish  brown,  faint  cloudy  blotches  of  the 
same  colour,  and  spots  of  black. 

See  Page  77,  Chapter  IV. 

498b.    Florida  Redwing:  A.  p.  bryanti  Rldgw. 

Egg  similar  to  those  of  the  preceding  species. 
See  Page  78,  Chapter  IV. 
114 


NEST   OF   ORCHARD    ORIOLE 


Semi-Pensile,  Pensile  or  Hanging  Nests 


5O6.    Orchard  Oriole :  Icterus  spurlus  (Linn.) 

Adult  ?>  — Head  and  upper  part  of  back  black;  lower  part  of  back 
and  under  parts  rich  chestnut  brown;  wings  and  tail  nearly 
black,  with  light  edges  to  the  longer  feathers. 

Adult  $  — Head  and  back  olive  green ;  wings  nearly  black ;  breast 
and  under  parts  dull  greenish  yellow.  Length — 7.32. 

Immature  & — Much  the  same  as  adult  $  during  first  year;  the 
throat  becomes  black,  and  the  chestnut  shows  during  the 
second  year. 

Breeding  Range — From  the  Gulf  States  northward  to  the  south- 
ern parts  of  New  England. 

The  nest  is  a  wonderful  basket-like  structure  of  fresh 
grass,  carefully  and  delicately  woven,  the  upper  edge  being 
securely  laced  to  small  branches  and  leaves.  Though  usually 
placed  in  fruit  trees,  it  may  be  found  in  almost  any  kind 
of  tree,  and  at  almost  any  distance  from  the  ground  up 
to  about  twenty-five  feet.  The  eggs  are  pearly  or  bluish 
white  with  irregular  deep  brown  and  lilac  gray  lines  and 
blotches.  Number  of  eggs,  3  to  5.  Size — .80  x  .58.  See  Fig.  5, 
Plate  C. 

To  find  an  Orchard  Oriole's  nest  requires  more  than  or- 
dinarily keen  eyes,  especially  when  newly  built,  as  the  fresh 
grass  so  nearly  matches  the  surrounding  leaves;  when  the 
grass  dies  and  becomes  yellow,  it  is  far  more  easily  seen,  but 
by  that  time  the  young  are  probably  hatched.  The  sides  of 
the  nest  are  so  thin  that  in  some  cases  the  contents  may 
readily  be  seen  from  below.  An  apple  or  pear  orchard  is  by 
far  the  most  likely  place  in  which  to  find  the  nest,  but  it  may 
be  found  in  a  cedar  or  almost  any  kind  of  tree,  frequently  with- 
in a  short  distance  of  a  house. 

The  nesting  season  begins  towards  the  end  of  May. 


5O7.    Baltimore  Oriole:  Icterus galbula (Linn.) 

Adult  &  — Head,  throat,  and  upper  part  of  back  black ;  breast,  belly, 
and  rump  brilliant  orange,  sometimes  reddish  orange;  wings 
black  with  white  bar;  outer  tail  feathers  orange  with  black 
base;  middle  tail  feathers  black  to  the  tips. 

"5 


Semi-Pensile,  Pensile  or  Hanging  Nests 

Adults  —  Greenish  or  grayish  orange  in   general  appearance; 
head,  back,  and  sometimes  the  throat  slightly  mottled  with 
black ;  breast  lighter  grayish  orange.     Length — 7. 53. 
.     The  young  resemble  the  adult  ?  but  have  no  black  mottling. 

Breeding  Range — From  the  Gulf  States  northward. 

The  nest  is  so  peculiar  that  it  cannot  be  mistaken.  It  is  pen- 
sile or  hanging,  about  six  or  seven  inches  deep,  and  is  built  of 
fine  grasses,  plant  fibres,  downy  seeds,  wool,  cotton  string,  hairs, 
and  sometimes  strips  of  cloth  ;  these  are  woven  together  so  as  to 
form  a  perfect  bag,  the  sides  of  which  are  very  thin.  The  inside 
is  lined  with  fine  grass,  hair,  and  wool.  The  nest  is  securely 
laced  to  small  twigs,  usually  at  the  end  of  a  branch.  From  4  to 
6  eggs  are  laid.  They  are  very  pale  gray,  drab,  or  almost  white, 
with  a  few  strange  cabalistic  scroll-like  lines  and  blotches  of  a 
dark  purplish  brown ;  some  of  these  lines  are  so  light  in  colour 
that  they  are  scarcely  perceptible.  Size — .92  x  .62.  See  Fig.  10, 
Plate  C. 

Although  the  Baltimore  Oriole's  nest  is  so  easy  to  find,  being 
generally  placed  far  from  the  ground,  at  the  extreme  end  of  an 
overhanging  branch  of  an  elm  tree,  it  is  difficult  to  see  whether 
it  contains  eggs  or  young.  Two  nests  are  sometimes  found  in 
a  single  tree.  The  elm  seems  to  be  preferred  to  all  others,  although 
frequently  the  black-walnut,  maple,  apple,  weeping-willow,  or 
almost  any  other  tree  may  be  selected.  The  most  likely  place  to 
find  the  nest  is  in  the  large  trees  along  the  roadside,  near  houses. 

The  young  may  be  reared  without  much  difficulty,  and  I 
know  of  few  other  birds  that  better  repay  the  trouble  of  bringing 
up;  they  are  thoroughly  sociable,  and  are  a  constant  source  of 
amusement  and  interest;  seldom  quiet,  they  delight  in  finding 
pieces  of  thread  or  string,  which  they  weave  and  unweave  in  a 
truly  wonderful  manner.  (I  have  some  reason  to  think  that  the 
male  birds  do  not  weave.)  They  become  so  tame  that  even 
when  allowed  to  fly  out  of  doors  they  will  return  to  their  cage. 

The  nesting  season  begins  about  the  third  week  in  May. 

623.    Black-whiskered  VIreo:  Vireo  calldris  barbatulus 

(Cab.) 

Adttlt — "  Similar  to  the  next  species,  but  somewhat  duller  above, 
and  with  a  fuscous  streak  on  either  side  of  the  throat." 
(Chapman.) 

Breeding  Range— The  southern  part  of  Florida. 

116 


PENDANT    NEST    OF    THE    BALTIMORE    ORIOLE. 


Semi-Pensile,  Pensile  or  Hanging  Nests 

The  nest  is  a  cup-like  structure,  hung  at  the  fork  of  a  branch ; 
it  is  made  of  shreds  of  bark,  grasses,  lichen,  and  spiders'  web, 
with  the  lining  of  cotton-like  fibre.  The  eggs,  numbering  3104, 
are  pinkish  white,  with  fine  spots  and  specks  of  brown.  Size — 

.78  x  .55. 

624.    Red-eyed  Vireo :  Vireo  ollvaceus  (Linn.) 

Adult — Upper  parts  olive  green;  a  dark  line  on  either  side  of 
crown;  a  whitish  line  over  the  eye;  under  parts  white;  the 
iris  is  red.  Length — 6.23. 

Breeding  Range — From  the  Gulf  States  northward. 

The  nest  is  made  of  grasses,  thin  strips  of  bark,  lichen, 
spiders'  web,  and  plant  fibre,  with  the  lining  of  grass  and  some- 
times hair.  It  is  cup-shaped,  the  rim  being  securely  laced  to  the 
forked  twigs ;  from  four  to  forty-five  feet  from  the  ground.  3  to  5 
eggs  are  laid;  they  are  white  with  a  few  dark  specks.  Size — 
,85x.56. 

This  is  the  most  common  of  our  vireos,  being  found  through- 
out the  woodland.  The  nests  vary  greatly  in  appearance,  some 
being  roughly  made  of  coarse  grass  and  bark,  while  others  are 
beautifully  decorated  with  white  web,  or  some  sort  of  white 
silky  material,  which  is  fastened  all  over  the  outside,  for  what 
purpose  it  is  difficult  to  imagine.  Almost  any  sort  of  tree  or 
sapling  is  chosen,  but  the  oak  has  the  preference  in  most  places; 
apple  trees  are  occasionally  used. 

The  breeding  season  begins  towards  the  end  of  May ;  prob- 
ably two  broods  are  reared. 

626.    Philadelphia  Vireo  :  Vireo  philadelphicus  (Cass.) 

Adult— \1  pper  parts  olive  green,  more  grayish  on  the  crown ;  a 
whitish  line  over  the  eye;  under  parts  pale  lemon  yellow, 
somewhat  tinged  with  green.  Length — 4.75. 

Breeding  Range— Northern  New  England  northward.  "It  has 
been  found  in  the  breeding  season  at  Franconia  and  Dixville 
Notch,  in  New  Hampshire,  and  in  the  region  about  Lake 
Umbagog;  in  western  Maine,  it  is  not  uncommon  during  the 
entire  summer."  (Brewster.) 

The  nest  and  eggs  resemble  those  of  the  red-eyed  vireo, 
probably  the  first  authentic  set  of  eggs  having  been  found  by  Mr. 
Ernest  E.  Thompson  in  Manitoba. 

117 


Semi-Pensile,  Pensile  or  Hanging  Nests 


627.    Warbling  Vireo :  Vireo  gilvus  Vieill. 

Adult—  Upper  parts  olive  green  or  grayish  green;  under  parts 
white,  slightly  tinged  with  yellow ;  line  over  the  eye  indis- 
tinct grayish  white.  Length — 5.80. 

Breeding  Range — Throughout  the  Eastern  States. 

The  nest  is  similar  to  that  of  the  red-eyed  vireo ;  the  eggs 
white,  spotted  and  sometimes  blotched  with  reddish  brown. 
Size— .75  x  .52. 

This  bird  is  difficult  to  distinguish  from  the  red-eyed  vireo; 
it  is  somewhat  smaller,  the  line  over  the  eye  less  distinct  and  the 
song  totally  different,  being  more  prolonged  and  melodious. 

The  breeding  season  begins  towards  the  end  of  May. 


628.    Yellow-throated  Vireo:  Vireo flavifrons  Vieill. 

Adult — Upper  parts  yellowish  olive;  rump  gray;  ring  around 
the  eye  yellow;  breast  light  lemon  yellow;  belly  grayish 
white;  distinct  white  bars  on  wings.  Length — 5.95. 

Breeding  Range — Throughout  the  Eastern  States. 

The  nest  resembles  a  good  example  of  the  red-eyed  vireo's, 
from  five  to  forty  feet  from  the  ground. 

Eggs  white  with  a  tinge  of  pink ;  rather  more  thickly  spotted 
than  those  of  the  red-eyed  vireo.  Size — .83  x  .61. 

The  bright  yellow  breast  serves  to  distinguish  this  bird  from 
other  members  of  the  vireo  family ;  the  breeding  habits  are  not 
very  different  from  those  of  the  red-eyed  vireo,  except  that 
nesting  begins  rather  later. 


629.    Blue-headed,   or  Solitary  Vireo:    Vireo  solitarius 
(Wils.) 

Adult — Upper  parts  greenish ;  head  blue  gray,  with  conspicuous 
white  ring  round  the  eye,  and  white  between  eye  and  bill ; 
under  parts  whitish,  tinged  on  the  sides  with  greenish 
yellow;  wings  have  two  white  bars.  Length — 5.61. 

Breeding  Range — Chiefly  in  the  northern  part  of  the  United  States, 
and  in  the  higher  parts  of  the  Alleghanies  further  south; 
rarely  in  northern  New  Jersey. 
118 


Semi- Pensile,  Pensile  or  Hanging  Nests 

The  nest  is  of  the  regular  vireo  type.  The  eggs,  3  to  4  in 
number,  are  white  with  few  dark  spots,  sometimes  in  a  wreath- 
like  cluster  around  the  larger  end.  Size — .81  x  .62. 

These  birds  are  inhabitants  of  the  woods,  though  they  some- 
times breed  in  apple  trees  near  houses.  A  pair  bred  in  an  apple 
tree  that  almost  touched  a  house,  and  the  young  could  be  seen 
from  my  window,  as  they  left  the  nest;  this  was  in  South 
Orange,  New  Jersey. 

629c.    Mountain  Solitary  Vireo :    V.  8.  alticola  Brewst. 

Resembles  the  preceding,  but  is  larger,  and  more  gray  than 
green  on  the  back. 
Breeding  Range — Higher  portions  of  the  Alleghanies  in  North  and 

South  Carolina. 

The  nest  is  much  like  that  of  other  vireos,  but  larger,  and 
having  in  addition  to  the  usual  materials  pieces  of  decayed  wood 
fastened  on  the  outside  with  spiders'  or  caterpillars'  webs.  3  to 
4  eggs  are  laid  ;  they  are  white,  with  fine  spots  and  dots  of 
brown.  Size — .80  x.  58. 

631.    White-eyed  Vireo:  Vireo  noveboracensis  (Gmel.) 

Adult— Upper  parts  greenish  ;  two  wing  bars  of  yellowish  white ; 
under  parts  whitish,  the  breast  and  sides  being  tinged  with 
yellow  ;  iris  white  until  after  the  breeding  season  ;  yellow 
eye-ring  and  in  front  of  eye.  Length — 5.27. 

Breeding  Range — From  Maine  southward. 

The  nest  is  much  deeper  than  most  of  the  vireo  nests,  being 
about  two  inches  deep  inside,  and  three  and  a  half  to  four  and  a 
half  deep  outside.  It  is  made  of  moss,  lichen,  plant  fibre,  grass, 
with  chips  of  wood  (taken  often  from  a  woodpecker's  excava- 
tion) fastened  on  the  outside  ;  the  lining  is  of  fine  grass.  It  is 
sometimes  attached  to  the  forked  branch  by  numerous  threads  of 
caterpillar  silk.  The  eggs  are  white,  with  either  very  few  or 
many  small  spots  or  specks  of  dark  purplish  brown.  3  to  5  are 
laid.  Size— .76  x  .56.  See  Fig.  6,  Plate  C. 

These  little  songsters  may  be  found  nesting  in  the  damp 
thickets,  the  nest  being  hung  within  a  few  feet  of  the  ground  ; 
the  birds  sit  very  close  and  will  not  readily  desert  their  nests.  In 
taking  the  accompanying  photograph  I  was  able  to  arrange  and 

119 


Semi-Pensile,  Pensile  or  Hanging  Nests 

focus  the  camera  and  give  a  time  exposure  without  disturbing  the 
bird,  even  though  the  camera  was  within  three  feet  of  the  nest. 
They  become  highly  indignant  if  the  nest  is  touched,  coming 
almost  to  one's  hand  while  they  alternately  scold  and  sing. 
The  irregular  song,  which  is  delivered  with  great  energy,  is  par- 
ticularly sweet  and  of  surprising  volume  for  so  small  a  bird. 

The  breeding  season  in  the  neighbourhood  of  New  York  be- 
gins about  the  third  week  in  May. 

631a.    Key  West  Vireo:    V.  n.  maynardi  (Brewst.) 

Closely  resembling  the  preceding,  it  is  rather  smaller  and 
lighter  in  colour. 
Range — Southern  Florida. 

Nest  and  eggs  described  as  being  identical  with  those  of  the 
white-eyed  vireo. 

648.    Parula,  or  Blue  yellow-back  Warbler:  Compsothly- 
pls  americana  (Linn.) 

Adults — Upper  parts  gray  blue,  with  a  yellowish  green  patch  in 
the  middle  of  the  back  ;  throat  and  breast  yellow,  with  a 
dark  brown  or  black  patch  ;  sides  rufous  ;  belly  white. 

Adult '? — Very  similar,  sometimes  lacking  the  rufous  colour  on 
the  sides.  Length — 4.73. 

Breeding  Range — Locally  throughout  the  Eastern  States  where 
the  usnea  moss  is  found. 

The  nest  is  placed  within  tufts  of  hanging  moss  (usnea) ;  it 
is  perhaps  more  strictly  speaking  globular  than  pensile,  as  the 
entrance  is  often  at  the  side  ;  it  is  usually  at  a  distance  of  from 
"three  to  forty  feet"  from  the  ground,  and  may  be  found  in  trees 
or  bushes.  The  eggs,  4  to  5  in  number,  are  white,  speckled 
with  various  shades  of  light  reddish  brown  and  lilac,  chiefly  at 
the  larger  end.  Size — .67  x  .49. 

It  is  in  the  swampy  woods  where  on  the  trees  and  bushes 
the  grey  moss  hangs  in  graceful  festoons  that  the  Parula  makes  his 
summer  home;  the  nest  being  completed  towards  the  end  of  May. 

748.    Golden-crowned   Kinglet:    Regulus  satrapa   Licht. 

Adult  $  — Upper  parts  olive  green,  crown  orange  bordered  by  black ; 
an  undefined  whitish  line  over  the  eye ;  under  parts  whitish. 


HANGING    NEST    OF    THE    WHITE-EYED    VIREO. 


Semi- Pensile,  Pensile  or  Hanging  Nests 

—  Has  yellow  instead  of  orange  on  the  crown.     Length— 
4.07. 

Breeding  Range — The  elevated  and  more  northern  part  of  the 
United  States. 

The  nests  seem  to  vary  greatly,  both  in  form,  method  of 
support,  and  in  the  materials  used  in  their  construction.  Minot 
describes  a  nest  he  found  in  the  White  Mountains  as  being 
"globular,  with  an  entrance  in  the  upper  part;  it  was  composed 
of  hanging  moss,  ornamented  with  bits  of  dead  leaves,  and  lined 
chiefly  with  feathers."  Three  nests  found  by  Mr.  Brewster* 
were  in  brief  as  follows :  First,  within  two  feet  of  the  top  of  a 
spruce  tree  sixty  feet  from  the  ground,  suspended  among  the  fine 
pendent  twigs,  resembling  the  Baltimore  oriole's  nest  in  its  posi- 
tion ;  second,  twenty  feet  below  the  top  of  a  large  spruce,  in  a 
cluster  of  stiff  twigs,  built  something  after  the  manner  of  the 
vireo's  nest,  but  supported  on  all  sides  by  radiating  twigs;  third, 
in  a  spruce  tree,  five  feet  from  the  end[of  the  branch,  the  nest  sus- 
pended from  above  and  resting  on  a  platform  of  sticks.  It  is 
difficult  to  know  whether  these  birds  habitually  build  a  pensile 
or  a  globular  nest,  or  a  combination  'of  the  two.  The  material 
used  in  constructing  these  nests  is  green  moss,  lichen,  usnea 
(moss),  lined  with  strips  of  bark,  fine  roots,  and  feathers.  The 
eggs,  white  to  dark  cream  colour,  with  small  dots  or  blotches  of 
light  brown  and  pale  lavender,  vary  in  number  from  6  to  10. 
Size— .56  x  .44.  See  Fig.  21,  Plate  C. 

749.    Ruby-crowned  Kinglet:    Regulus  calendula  (Linn.) 

Adults — Upper  parts  olive  green;  middle  of  crown  scarlet 
(partly  concealed) ;  under  parts  whitish ;  wing  has  two  whit- 
ish bars.  Length — 4.41. 

Breeding  Range — The  higher  mountains,  and  from  the  northern 
border  of  the  United  States  northward. 

The  nest,  usually  pensile  or  semi-pensile,  is  placed  at  from 
twelve  to  thirty  feet  from  the  ground,  and  is  made  of  mosses, 
strips  of  soft  bark,  and  feathers.  The  eggs,  5  to  9  in  number,  are 
whitish,  with  spots  of  light  brown,  chiefly  at  the  larger  end. 
Size— .59  x. 43. 

The  descriptions  of  the  nests  of  these  Kinglets  are  taken  (in 
brief)  mainly  from  Davie's  "Nests  and  Eggs  of  North  American 
Birds." 

*  "  The  Auk,"  v.,  pp.  337-344. 

121 


Chapter  VIII 
OPEN  NESTS  IN  TREES,  BUSHES,  AND  VINES 

PART  I.-LARGE  NESTS  IN  TREES 

327.    Swallow-tailed  Kite  :  Elanoides  forf icatus  (Linn.) 

Adult— Upper  parts  blue  black,  except  the  head,  which,  together 
with  the  under  parts,  is  white  ;  tail  deeply  forked.  Length 
— 24.00. 

Breeding  Range — The  Southern  States,  northward  along  the  Mis- 
sissippi Valley  to  Illinois  ;  "casually  east  to  Pennsylvania 
and  southern  New  England." 

The  nest,  composed  of  sticks,  and  sometimes  green  moss,  is 
placed  on  the  topmost  branches  of  a  tall  tree,  usually  near  water- 
courses ;  it  is  a  bulky  structure.  "  Outwardly  it  measures  eigh- 
teen inches  in  diameter,  depth  twelve  inches."  (Davie.)  2  to  4 
eggs  are  laid  ;  they  are  white  tinged  with  green  or  yellow,  with 
specks,  spots,  and  blotches  of  various  shades  of  brown  and  chest- 
nut. Size — 1.85  x  1.46. 

These  birds  are  said  to  fight  desperately  when  their  nests 
are  threatened,  and  abandon  the  nest  if  it  be  disturbed.  In  the 
southern  portion  of  their  range  the  breeding  season  probably  be- 
gins early  in  April. 

328.    White-tailed  Kite:   Elanus  leucurus  (Vieill.) 

Adulf—  Upper  parts  ashy  gray  ;  whiter  on  the  head  ;  wing  coverts 
black  ;  tail  and  under  parts  white.  Length — 15.50. 

Breeding  Range — Probably  South  Carolina,  southern  Illinois,  and 
Florida. 

The  nest  is  placed  at  the  topmost  branch  of  a  tree,  near 
water  ;  it  is  a  shallow  structure  of  sticks,  thinly  lined  with  bark 
and  sometimes  straw.  3  to  5  eggs  are  laid  (Davie)  ;  they  are 
"dull  creamy  white,  thickly  blotched,  dotted,  and  tinged  with 

122 


Large  Nests  in  Trees 

deep  chestnut,  in  some  cases  almost  completely  covering  the 
whole  ground."  Size — 1.71x1.31.  In  South  Carolina  the  nest- 
ing season  begins  early  in  March. 

329.    Mississippi  Kite :   Ictinia  mississippiensis  (Wils.) 

Adult — Upper  parts  :  Head  gray  ;  back  slate  colour  ;  tail  black  ; 

under  parts  gray.     Length — 14.00. 
Breeding  Range — From  South  Carolina,  southward  ;  casually  from 

Pennsylvania,  Wisconsin,  and  Iowa  in  the  interior  (A.  O.  U. 

check-list). 

The  nests  are  built  in  trees  at  from  twenty  to  fifty  feet  from 
the  ground  ;  they  are  made  of  dry  and  green  twigs,  leaves,  and 
moss,  and  are  rather  bulky,  the  walls  being  very  thick.  The 
eggs,  numbering  from  2  to  3,  are  dull  white  or  slightly  tinged 
with  green  or  blue.  Size — 1.64  x  1.28. 

The  breeding  season  probably  begins  about  the  end  of  April 
or  early  in  May. 

33O.    Everglade  Kite:   Rostrhamus  sociabilis  (Vieill.) 

Eggs  dusky  white  or  brownish,  with  blotches  and  spots  of 
reddish  brown. 

See  Page  77,  Chapter  IV. 


332.    Sharp-shinned   Hawk:   Accipiter  velox  (Wils.) 

Adult — Upper  parts  bluish  slate  colour  ;  tail,  which  is  square,  is 
gray,  barred  with  blackish  brown  ;  under  parts  barred  with 
white,  buff,  and  rusty  brown.  Length —  $  ,  1 1.25  ;  ? ,  13.50. 

Breeding  Range — Throughout  the  Eastern  States. 

The  nest  of  sticks  and  twigs  is  placed  in  a  crotch,  or  against 
the  tree  trunk,  at  a  height  of  from  ten  to  sixty  feet.  The  tree 
selected  varies  according  to  locality  ;  in  some  places  pines  are 
most  often  chosen,  but  oak,  birch,  or  dead  trees  are  also  used  ; 
the  nest  is  rarely  in  cavities  or  on  ledges  of  rock.  The  eggs,  num- 
bering from  3  to  5  or  6,  are  white,  tinged  with  green,  blue,  or 
gray,  "sometimes  unmarked,"  but  usually  spotted,  blotched, 
clouded,  and  streaked  with  various  shades  of  browns,  rust  colour, 
chocolate,  and  lilac.  Size — 1.50  x  1.16. 

123 


Large  Nests  in  Trees 

The  nesting  season  begins  from  early  in  April  to  early  in 
June,  according  to  locality. 

333.    Cooper's  Hawk:  Accipiter  cooperii  (Bonap.) 

Adult—  Resembling  the  sharp-shinned  hawk  ;  the  dark  crown, 
rounded  tail,  and  superior  size,  are  the  most  marked  differences. 
Length — $,  15.50;  ?,  19.00. 

Breeding  Range — Throughout  the  Eastern  States. 

The  nest  is  large  and  bulky  ;  it  is  made  of  sticks.  Often  a 
deserted  crow's  or  hawk's  nest  is  used,  otherwise  the  nest  is 
placed  near  the  top  of  a  tree,  generally  in  a  crotch.  The  eggs 
number  from  4  to  6  ;  they  are  white,  more  or  less  tinged  with 
green  or  blue,  either  immaculate  or  with  light  reddish-brown 
spots.  Size — 1.97  x  1.50.  See  Fig.  4,  Plate  A. 

This  is  one  of  the  many  so-called  chicken  hawks,  and  it  de- 
serves the  name  far  better  than  many  of  the  other  hawks,  as  it 
destroys  a  great  number  of  poultry. 

The  breeding  season,  near  New  York,  begins  about  the  end 
of  April,  and  in  the  South  about  the  first  of  April. 

334.    American  Goshawk :  Accipiter  atricapillus  (Wils.) 

Adult—  Upper  parts  slate  colour  ;  head  much  darker  ;   line  over 

eye  white  ;  under  parts  whitish,  with  broken  bars  of  dark 

gray. 
Immature — Upper  parts  dark  brown  ;  under  parts  buff,  streaked 

with  very  dark  grayish  brown.      Length —  3  ,  22.00  ;    ?  , 

24.00. 
Breeding  Range — From  the  more  northern  parts  of  the  United 

States  northward. 

The  nest  is  made  of  sticks,  lined  with  coarse  pieces  of  bark 
and  grass  ;  it  is  placed  in  tall  trees,  usually  evergreens.  The 
eggs,  numbering  from  2  to  5,  are  whitish,  sometimes  tinged  with 
blue  or  green,  either  unmarked  or  with  light  brownish  spots. 
Size — 2.32  x  1.75. 

This  bird  resembles  the  European  goshawk,  which  was 
used  to  catch  hares  and  rabbits  in  the  time  when  falconry  was  so 
much  the  fashion. 

124 


Large  Nests  in  Trees 


337.    Red-tailed  Hawk:  Buteo  borealis  (Cmel.) 

Adult — Upper  parts  dark  brown  ;  the  feathers  marked  with  rust 
colour  and  buff ;  tail  bright  chestnut,  with  a  dark  band  and 
whitish  tip.  Under  parts:  Breast  buffy  white,  with  heavy 
streaks  on  the  upper  part,  and  few  or  none  on  the  lower 
part  ;  belly  whitish  ;  sides  streaked  with  brown. 

Immature — The  tail  brown  instead  of  chestnut.  Length —  $  , 
20.00  ;  ?  ,  23.00. 

Breeding  Range— The  Eastern  States. 

The  nest,  which  is  very  large  and  shallow,  is  made  of  sticks, 
moss,  and  grass,  and  sometimes  feathers  ;  it  is  placed  against  the 
trunk,  usually  at  a  considerable  height.  Pine  trees  situated  in 
the  dense  forests  are  most  often  used.  2  to  3,  and  sometimes 
4,  eggs  are  laid  ;  they  are  whitish,  either  unmarked  or  heavily 
blotched  with  shades  of  reddish  and  yellowish  brown  and  lilac, 
occasionally  the  markings  confined  to  the  larger  end.  Size — 
2.36  x  i. 80. 

These  large  and  handsome  hawks  usually  build  their  own 
nests  every  year  ;  but  in  some  instances  they  have  been  known 
to  use  the  old  nests  of  either  hawks  or  crows. 

The  breeding  season,  varying  according  to  locality,  begins 
in  April  or  May  ;  in  the  neighbourhood  of  New  York  nests  may 
be  found  early  in  April. 


337d.    Harlan's  Hawk  :  Buteo  borealis  harlani  (Aud.) 

Breeding  Range — "  The  Gulf  States  and  Lower  Mississippi  Valley, 
north  to  Pennsylvania,  Iowa,  and  Kansas."     (Davie.) 

A  sub-species  of  the  red-tailed  hawk,  being  somewhat 
smaller,  darker  in  colour  on  the  back,  belly  spotted,  and  the  tail 
mottled  with  rusty  red,  black,  gray,  and  whitish. 

The  nest  is  placed  in  a  large  tree;  it  is  composed  of  sticks, 
lined  with  leaves  and  moss. 

2  eggs  mentioned  by  Davie  measure  2.40  x  1.81  and 
2.45  x  1.83;  "their ground  colour  is  bluish  white,  blotched  with 
brown;  in  one  somewhat  sparingly  over  the  small  end,  and  in 
the  other  specimen  sprinkled  over  the  entire  surface." 

125 


Large  Nests  in  Trees 

339.    Red-shouldered  Hawk:  Buteo  lineatus  (Gmel.) 

Adult — Upper  parts  dark  brown,  slightly  marked  with  rusty 
brown;  shoulders  rufous;  tail  very  dark,  with  white  bars; 
under  parts  reddish  buff,  with  very  fine  white  bars;  in  the 
immature  birds  the  under  parts  are  white,  spotted  with 
brownish  gray.  Length  —  $,  18.30;  $,20.35. 

Breeding  Range — Throughout  the  Eastern  States. 

The  nest  is  much  like  that  of  the  red-tailed  hawk.  The 
eggs  are  very  similar,  but  smaller  and  usually  more  heavily 
marked,  but  they  vary  greatly,  some  being  very  faintly  washed, 
while  in  others  the  ground  colour  is  almost  hidden  by  the  heavy 
splotches  of  reddish  brown.  Size — 2. 15  x  1.65. 

The  Red-shouldered  Hawk  is  the  most  common  of  the  larger 
hawks,  and  may  be  found  frequenting  the  damp  woods  and  the 
vicinity  of  ponds. 

The  breeding  season  commences  in  April. 

339a.    Florida  Red-shouldered  Hawk :  B.  I.  alleni   Ridgw. 

Breeding  Range — Texas,  Florida,  and  on  the  Atlantic  coast  to 
South  Carolina. 

A  southern  sub-species  of  the  red-shouldered  hawk;  it  is 
smaller,  the  head  is  lighter,  and  the  under  parts  are  not  so  dis- 
tinctly barred. 

The  nest  is  placed  in  large  trees,  and  is  made  of  twigs,  green 
leaves,  and  Spanish  moss.  The  eggs  resemble  those  of  the  pre- 
ceding species.  This  is  a  very  common  bird  in  Florida,  being 
found  throughout  the  pine  woods  and  particularly  near  the  rivers 
and  in  the  cypress  swamps,  where  it  may  frequently  be  seen 
perched  on  the  lower  branch  of  a  tree,  watching  for  its  prey.  It 
is  a  remarkably  tame  bird,  and  will  seize  any  small  rodent  or  other 
prey  without  the  slightest  regard  for  the  onlooker.  I  am  inclined 
to  believe  this  southern  variety  destroys  far  more  birds  than  does 
the  more  northern  red-shouldered  hawk. 

The  breeding  season  begins  in  March. 

342.    Swainson's  Hawk :  Buteo  swainsoni  Bonap. 

Adult  $—  Upper  parts   dark  brown;    feathers  margined  with 
rufous;  forehead  nearly  white ;  under  parts  and  throat  white; 
126 


Large  Nests  in  Trees 

breast  reddish  or  rufous ;  belly  creamy  white,  spotted  with 

grayish  brown. 
Adult  $  —  Has  the  breast  and  back  dark  brown.     Length  —  £, 

20.00. 
Breeding  Range — West   of  the    Mississippi.      It   has   been   found 

further  east,  and  New  York  and  New  England  records  are 

not  very  rare,  but  I  can  find  no  mention  of  its  breeding  in 

the  Eastern  States.     It  occurs  in  the  West  at  times  in  vast 

numbers. 


343.    Broad-winged  Hawk :  Buteo  latissimus  (Wils.) 

Adult—  Upper  parts  brownish  ;  the  feathers  edged  with  grayish 
buff ;  tail  dark,  with  two  bars,  and  the  tip  light  gray  ; 
under  parts  white,  barred  with  brownish  ;  the  throat  is 
streaked  very  heavily  on  either  side.  Length — B  ,  15.89. 

Breeding  Range — Throughout  the  Eastern  States. 

The  nest  is  a  rude  structure  of  twigs,  moss,  and  sometimes 
feathers,  placed  in  a  tree  at  a  height  of  from  ten  feet  upwards. 
2  to  4  eggs  are  laid  ;  they  are  whitish,  marked  with  blotches  and 
spots  of  yellowish  and  purplish  brown,  or  with  dull  lilac.  Size — 
1.90  x  1.54. 

In  common  with  so  many  hawks,  this  bird  often  makes  use 
of  an  abandoned  crow's  nest. 

The  breeding  season  begins  early  in  April.  The  male  assists 
in  the  duties  of  incubation. 


344.    Short-tailed   Hawk:  Buteo  brachyurus  Vieill. 

Adult—"  Upper  parts  slaty  gray  or  fuscous  brown  ;  forehead 
whitish  ;  tail  barred  with  6lack  and  narrowly  tipped  with 
white,  its  under  surface  grayish  ;  sides  and  breast  with 
some  rufous-brown  markings  ;  rest  of  under  parts  pure 
white."  Length — 17.00. 

Breeding  Range — Florida. 

But  little  is  known  of  the  breeding  habits  of  this  hawk, 
which  is  rare  in  the  United  States.  The  eggs  are  described  as 
dull  white  or  bluish,  blotched  and  spotted  at  the  larger  end  with 
reddish  brown.  Size — 2.17  x  1.61. 

127 


Large  Nests  in  Trees 

352.    Bald  Eagle:  Haliaetus  leucocephalus  (Linn.) 

Adult—  The  entire  head,  neck,  and  tail  white  ;  other  parts  dark 

brownish.     Length — $,  32. 85;    $,35.50. 
Breeding  Range — Throughout  North  America. 

The  nest  is  a  very  large  structure  of  sticks,  sometimes  "partly 
composed  of  sods,"  and  more  or  less  lined  with  grass  ;  it  is 
placed  in  large  trees  (in  parts  of  Florida  the  pine  is  used  almost 
exclusively),  in  mangroves,  and  rarely  on  rocks.  The  eggs,  2  in 
number,  are  white  or  whitish.  Size — 2.85  x  2.20. 

The  Bald  Eagle  found  in  Florida  is  much  smaller  than  the 
northern  bird  ;  its  eggs  also  are  somewhat  smaller  ;  then,  again, 
the  Florida  bird  feeds  to  a  great  extent  on  carrion,  and  may  be 
often  seen  feeding  with  large  numbers  of  the  turkey  vultures. 
Some  writers  say  that  on  the  approach  of  the  eagle  the  turkey 
vultures  disperse.  I  have,  however,  seen  them  feeding  together 
in  comparative  harmony. 

The  breeding  season  begins  very  early.  In  Florida  eggs 
may  be  found  in  January. 

357.    Pigeon  Hawk:    Faico  columbarius  Linn. 

Eggs  light  cinnamon  or  creamy  white,  blotched,  clouded,  and 
spotted  with  chestnut  and  brown. 

See  Page  82,  Chapter  V. 

362.    Audubon's  Caracara:    Poiyborus  cherivay  (Jacq.) 

Adult — Crown  and  back  black  ;  upper  back  and  nape  slightly 
barred.  Under  parts  :  Throat  and  breast  buff,  the  breast 
finely  barred  with  black  ;  belly  black  ;  feathers  on  crown 
slightly  elongated  ;  face  bare.  Length — 23.00. 

Breeding  Range — Southern  Florida  and  Texas. 

The  nests,  which  are  not  very  bulky,  are  made  of  sticks  and 
grass,  either  with  or  without  lining,  and  placed  in  trees,  amongst 
others  the  cabbage  palmetto,  and  in  bushes,  rarely  in  cliffs.  2 
to  3  eggs  are  laid  ;  they  are  reddish  or  yellowish  buff  with  small 
and  large  markings  and  cloudings  of  rich  purplish  brown,  chest- 
nut, and  reddish  brown.  Size — 2.40  x  1.70. 

128 


Large  Nests  in  Trees 

These  beautiful  birds  are  fairly  abundant  in  southern  Florida  ; 
and  though  they  sometimes  come  near  the  smaller  towns,  it  is 
only  when  there  is  some  special  attraction,  such  as  a  slaughter- 
house, that  they  assemble  with  the  flocks  of  turkey  vultures. 
More  often  they  frequent  the  somewhat  open  country,  away  from 
human  habitation. 

The  breeding  season  begins  in  early  March. 

364.    American  Osprey;   Fish   Hawk:   Pandion  haliaetus 
carolinensis  (Gmel.) 

Adult  $  — Upper  parts  grayish  brown,  with  more  or  less  white 
markings  on  top  of  head  ;  under  parts  white,  sometimes 
marked  with  dark  gray  or  brown.  Length — 23. 10. 

Adult  ?  — Has  the  breast  invariably  spotted. 

Breeding  Range — Throughout  North  America,  chiefly  along  the 
sea-coast. 

The  nest,  which  is  very  large,  is  made  of  sticks,  sea-weed, 
and  various  other  materials,  depending  on  locality.  It  is  placed 
in  trees,  either  dead  or  alive,  on  stumps,  and  on  almost  any  avail- 
able place,  and  is  used  for  succeeding  years.  Several  nests  are 
usually  to  be  found  near  together.  Seldom  more  than  3  eggs  are 
laid,  4  being  an  uncommon  number.  They  vary  very  greatly 
both  in  their  ground  colour  and  markings  ;  in  some  the  dark  red- 
dish-brown blotches  completely  cover  the  ground  colour,  while 
in  others  the  whitish  ground  colour  is  almost  immaculate  ;  usu- 
ally the  markings  are  fairly  heavy.  Size — 2.40  x  1.75.  See  Fig. 
2.  Plate  A. 

366.    American  Long-eared  Owl :  Asio  wilsonianus 

(Less.) 

Adult — Upper  parts  dark  brown,  finely  mottled  with  white,  with 
some  buff  showing  ;  under  parts  white,  buff,  and  dark  gray- 
ish brown,  streaked  on  the  breast  and  barred  on  the  belly. 
Ear  tufts  about  one  inch  long.  Length — 14.80. 

Breeding  Range— Throughout  the  United  States. 

The  nest  is  seldom  made  by  the  birds  themselves  ;  usually  a 
crow's  or  squirrel's  nest  is  used,  some  small  work  in  the  way  of 
repairing  being  done,  and  a  few  feathers  and  leaves  added.  3  to 
6  white  eggs  are  laid.  Size—  i.  60  x  1.32. 

129 


Large  Nests  in  Trees 

The  breeding  season  begins  early  in  April.  The  period  of  in- 
cubation occupies  about  three  weeks. 

368.    Barred  Owl:  Syrnium  nebulosum  (Forst.) 

Eggs  white. 

See  Page  97,  Chapter  VI. 

368a.    Florida  Barred  Owl :  S.  n.  alleni   Ridgw. 

Eggs  white. 

See  Page  98,  Chapter  VI. 

372.    Saw-whet  or  Acadian  Owl:  Nyctala  acadica  ., 
(Gmel.) 

Eggs  white. 

See  Page  98,  Chapter  VI. 

375.    Great  Horned  Owl:   Bubo  virginianus  (Gmel.) 

Adult—  Upper  parts  mottled  buff  brown  and  black  ;  under  parts 
same  colours,  barred  ;  ear-tufts  two  inches  long  ;  feet  and 
legs  feathered.  Length  —  $  ,  22.00. 

Breeding  Range — Throughout  the  Eastern  States. 

The  nest  is  a  large  structure  of  sticks,  leaves,  bark,  and 
feathers,  placed  usually  in  a  coniferous  tree  ;  very  often  a  squir- 
rel's, crow's,  or  hawk's  nest  is  used.  Sometimes  the  nest  is  in  a 
hole  in  a  tree,  and  rarely  amongst  rocks.  2  to  3  (Minot  gives  the 
limit  as  4)  white  eggs  are  laid.  Size — 2.25  x  1.85. 

These  large  feathered  prowlers  of  the  night  roam  through  the 
darkened  forests  in  search  of  birds  and  small  animals,  upon  which 
they  prey  ;  neither  do  they  scorn  to  enter  the  barn-yard,  and 
many  a  chicken  is  taken  to  satisfy  their  own  appetite  or  to  feed 
their  hungry  owlets.  Their  dismal  hooting  is  one  of  the  most 
uncanny  sounds  heard  during  the  night ;  to  thoroughly  appre- 
ciate it  one  should  be  alone  in  the  woods,  when  it  brings  up  by 
no  means  pleasing  thoughts. 

The  nesting  season  begins  towards  the  end  of  February. 
130 


.;^ 


.        / 


Eggs 


4.'     Cooper's  Hawk 

5.     Chuck-will's-widow 


Large  Nests  in  Trees 


488.    American  Crow :  Corvus  americanus  Aud. 

Adult—  Entirely  blue  black.     Length — 19.30. 
Breeding  Range — Throughout  the  United  States. 

The  nest  is  variable  in  size,  usually  very  bulky  ;  it  is  made 
of  sticks,  grape-vine  and  cedar  bark,  dried  dung,  sods,  horse 
hair,  moss,  grass,  etc.  It  is  placed  in  trees,  or  even  tall  bushes, 
from  fifteen  feet  up.  The  eggs,  numbering  from  4  to  6  or  7,  are 
pale  bluish  green  or  nearly  white,  with  few  or  many  small  light 
brownish  markings.  Size — 1.65  x  1.15. 

The  Common  Crow  is  so  well  known  that  but  little  need  be 
said  of  it  here.  The  nesting  season  begins  early  in  April  ;  prob- 
ably more  than  one  brood  is  reared.  The  nest  is  usually  in  the 
woods,  and  occasionally  along  hedges. 


488a.    Florida  Crow :  C.  a.  f loridanus  Baird. 

Very  similar  to  the  preceding  species.     Nesting  habits  and 
eggs  identical. 

Breeding  Range — Florida. 


49O.    Fish  Crow:    Corvus  ossifragus  Wils. 

Adult—  Entirely  blue  black.     Length — 16.00. 
Breeding  Range — The  Gulf  coast,  and  the  Atlantic  coast  from  Long 
Island  southward. 

The  nest  and  eggs  are  very  similar  to  those  of  the  common 
crow,  the  eggs  being  somewhat  smaller.  Size — 1.50  x  1.06. 

This  crow  lives  near  the  sea-shore  or  along  rivers,  never  very 
far  from  the  sea-coast.  It  builds  most  often  in  cedars  or  other 
evergreens,  many  nests  being  found  near  together.  It  may  be 
distinguished  from  the  common  crow  by  the  extreme  harshness 
of  its  voice. 

The  breeding  season  begins  in  May. 


131 


Nests  in  Trees,  Bushes,  or  Vines 

PART  II.-NESTS   IN  TREES,  BUSHES,  OR 
VINES 

314.  White-crowned    Pigeon:     Columba    leucocephala 

Linn. 

Adult  $  — Dark  slate  colour,  with  iridescent  feathers  on  the  neck ; 

front  of  crown  pure  white. 
Adult  $  — Dull  slate  colour ;  wings  tinged  with  brownish  ;  the 

crown  dull  white.     Length — 13.50. 
Breeding  Range — The  keys  of  southern   Florida,  including   Key 

West. 

The  nest  is  placed  in  bushes  or  trees,  and  is  a  more  ambi- 
tious structure  than  is  usual  with  pigeons  ;  it  is  made  of  sticks, 
without  lining.  2  pure  white  eggs  are  laid.  Size — 1.41  x  1.02. 

This  pigeon  is  easily  recognised  by  its  dark  colour  and  white 
forehead  ;  throughout  the  West  Indies  it  is  fairly  abundant,  and 
is  used  greatly  as  an  article  of  food,  the  flesh  being  considered  a 
luxury,  especially  during  the  pimento  (allspice)  season.  These 
birds  are  usually  gregarious  during  the  breeding  season,  many 
nests  being  built  in  a  single  tree. 

315.  Passenger   Pigeon:    Ectopistes  migratorius  (Linn.) 

Adult  $  — Upper  parts  slate  colour,  tinged  in  parts  with  brown, 
with  iridescent  feathers  on  the  neck  ;  under  parts  purplish 
or  pinkish  buff,  shading  into  white  on  the  belly  ;  tail  long 
and  rather  pointed. 

Adult  $  — Upper  parts  more  brownish  ;  breast  more  grayish 
brown,  and  belly  dull  white.  Length — 16.29. 

Breeding  Range — Very  local,  probably  "from  northern  Maine  to 
northern  Minnesota."  Perhaps  now  more  common  in  Mich- 
igan and  the  Red  River  country  than  elsewhere. 

The  nest  is  loosely  made  of  sticks  and  placed  in  a  tree,  i  or 
2  white  eggs  are  laid.  Size — 1.48  x  1.04. 

These  pigeons,  once  so  numerous  that  they  were  netted  in 
thousands,  are  now  nearly  extinct,  but  few  having  been  seen  dur- 
ing the  past  five  years. 

132 


Nests  in  Trees,  Bushes,  or  Vines 

316.    Mourning   Dove;    Carolina    Dove:   Zenaidura    ma- 
croura  (Linn.) 

Adult  $  — Upper  parts  purplish  brown  ;  forehead  pinkish  buff  ; 

a  small  black  patch  on  cheek  ;  neck  with  iridescent  feathers  ; 

under  parts  pinkish  or  light  purplish  buff  to  creamy  buff  on 

the  belly  ;  tail  pointed. 

Adults — Very  similar  ;  less  brilliant.     Length — 11.85. 
Breeding  Range — Throughout  the  Eastern  States  to  Maine. 

The  nest  is  a  slight  platform  of  small  sticks,  loosely  placed  in 
a  bush  or  tree,  usually  not  more  than  twelve  feet  from  the 
ground  ;  it  is  sometimes  found  on  a  stump,  often  on  a  deserted 
nest  of  a  thrush,  and  in  some  parts  of  the  country  it  is  situated 
on  the  ground.  2  white  eggs  are  laid.  Size — 1.12  x  .82. 

This  is  the  commonest  of  the  doves  found  in  the  Eastern 
States.  It  begins  breeding  in  the  early  spring,  and  rears  two  or 
three  or  even  more  broods.  In  Princeton,  New  Jersey,  nests 
containing  eggs  have  been  found  as  early  as  April  5th. 

317.    Zenaida  Dove:  Zenaida  zenaida  (Bonap.) 

Adult — Much  like  the  mourning  dove  ;  the  tail  is  square,  and  the 

under  parts  darker.     Length — 10.00. 
Breeding  Range — The  Florida  Keys  and  southward. 

Like  the  nests  of  other  doves,  it  is  a  rude  platform  of  sticks 
if  placed  in  bushes  ;  when  placed  on  the  ground,  a  more  com- 
pact structure  of  leaves  and  grass  is  made.  The  eggs,  I  to  2,  are 
white.  Size — 1.19  x  .94. 

32O.    Ground  Dove:  Columbigallina  passerina  terrestris 
Chapm. 

Eggs  white. 

See  Page  56,  Chapter  II. 

322.    Quail  Dove  :  Geotrygon  martinica  (Gmel.) 

Adult — Upper  parts  reddish  or  light  chestnut  buff  ;  a  whitish  line 
below  the  eye  ;  under  parts  pinkish  or  purplish  buff.  Length 
— ii.oo. 

Breeding  Range — The  Florida  Keys  and  southward. 


Nests  in  Trees,  Bushes,  or  Vines 

The  nest  is  of  sticks  placed  on  the  branch  of  a  tree  or  bush. 
2  buffy-white  eggs  are  laid.  Size — 1.22  x  .94. 

This  is  really  a  West  Indian  species,  but  it  has  been  found  in 
Key  West  and  other  Florida  keys.  In  habits  it  is  largely  terres- 
trial, though  not  as  much  so  as  the  ground  dove.  In  the  West 
Indies  it  is  found  almost  exclusively  in  the  thickly  wooded 
regions. 

382.    Carolina  Paroquet:  Conurus  carolinensis  (Linn.) 

Adult — Forehead  and  cheeks  orange ;  rest  of  head  and  neck  light 

Cllow;  band  of  wing  orange;    other  parts  grass  green, 
ngth — 12.50. 

Breeding  Range — Somewhat  uncertain  ;  probably  the  uninhabited 
part  of  Florida  is  the  only  breeding  place  east  of  the  Missis- 
sippi. 

There  is  a  great  difference  of  opinion  in  regard  to  the  nest  of 
this  bird;  according  to  some  writers  it  is  in  a  hole  in  a  tree,  and 
others  say  it  is  something  like  the  nest  of  the  Carolina  dove, 
being  a  slight  structure  placed  in  the  branches  of  a  cypress.  The 
eggs  are  white;  2  in  number.  Size — 1.44  x  1.12. 

The  Carolina  Paroquet  was  formerly  very  abundant  in  Florida, 
and  ranged  northward  as  far  as  the  Great  Lakes  ;  now  it  is  nearly 
extinct,  being  restricted  to  the  southern  part  of  Florida  and  to  some 
few  places  further  west. 

386.    Mangrove  Cuckoo:  Coccyzus  minor  (Gmel.) 

Adult—  Upper  parts  brownish  fawn  colour  ;  the  tail  has  the  outer 
feathers  black  and  white;  inner  feathers  brownish  fawn; 
under  parts  buff.  Length— 12.50. 

Breeding  Range — The  Florida  Keys,  Florida,  and  Louisiana. 

The  nest  is  a  rude  platform  of  sticks  in  the  lower  branches 
of  trees  and  bushes.  3  to  4  greenish-blue  eggs  are  laid. 

386a.    Maynard's  Cuckoo  :  C.  m.  maynardi  (Ridgw.) 

Somewhat  smaller  than  the  mangrove  cuckoo  and  lighter  in 
colour,  particularly  on  the  breast. 

Range — The  Florida  Keys. 
Nest  and  eggs  unknown. 

13* 


Nests  in  Trees,  Bushes,  or  Vines 

387.    Yellow-billed  Cuckoo :    Coccyzus   amerlcanus 
(Linn.) 

Adult— Upper  parts  drab;  wings  mostly  rufous;  under  parts  whit- 
ish; outer  tail  feathers  black  and  white;  upper  mandible 
black;  lower  one  yellow  except  at  tip,  which  is  black. 
Length— 12.20. 

Breeding  Range — Throughout  the  Eastern  States. 

The  nests  vary  greatly  both  in  size  and  construction;  some 
are  little  more  than  a  mere  platform  of  sticks,  with  a  leaf  or  two 
for  lining,  while  others  are  fairly  large  nests,  well  lined  with  dry 
ferns,  leaves,  catkins,  and  skeleton  leaves;  they  are  always  shal- 
low and  ragged.  The  usual  situation  is  in  a  small  tree,  bush,,  or 
briar;  of  the  trees  I  think  the  oak  seems  to  be  preferred,  in  some 
localities  particularly.  2  to  5  very  pale  greenish-blue  eggs  are  laid ; 
they  have  no  polish.  Size — 1.15  x.84. 

That  so  dainty  and  trim  a  bird  as  the  Yellow-billed  Cuckoo 
appears  to  be  should  have  such  a  slovenly  nest  is  always  a  cause 
of  surprise,  but  that  the  nest  and  its  surroundings  should  be  kept 
in  such  disorder  and  filth  is  still  more  extraordinary. 

The  young  when  hatched  are  entirely  naked.  In  a  few  days 
blue  pin-feathers  appear  ;  these  remain  in  their  envelopes  until 
the  bird  is  completely  covered.  The  day  before  the  young  leave 
their  nest  they  present  a  remarkable  appearance,  more  like  porcu- 
pines than  birds,  as  all  the  pin-feathers  are  long  and  sharply 
pointed  ;  then  comes  the  transformation,  and  in  twenty-four 
hours  the  bird  possesses  a  fine  coat  of  beautiful  soft  feathers,  with 
no  pin-feathers  visible;  the  tail  is  then  about  one  inch  and  a  half 
long.  With  the  exception  of  the  bill,  which  is  blue,  the  young 
resemble  the  parent  birds  in  colour.  The  period  of  incubation  is 
about  fourteen  days.  Eggs  may  be  found  from  early  June  until 
about  the  first  week  in  August.  The  eggs  are  in  all  probability 
not  laid  on  consecutive  days — how  long  the  interval,  is  somewhat 
uncertain. 

388.    Black-billed  Cuckoo:  Coccyzus  erythrophthalmus 
(Wils.) 

Adult — Upper  parts  drab;  tail  the  same  colour,  with  white  tips  ; 

under  parts  pearly  white;  bill  black.     Length — 1 1.83. 
Breeding  Range — Throughout  the  Eastern  States. 

135 


Nests  in  Trees,  Bushes,  or  Vines 

The  nest  is  usually  larger  than  that  of  the  preceding  species 
and  is  less  ragged;  it  is  often  placed  at  a  greater  height  from  the 
ground ;  the  material  used  is  about  the  same.  2  to  5,  very  rarely 
7,  greenish-blue  eggs  are  laid  (it  is  probable  that  where  sets  of  7 
are  found  they  were  laid  by  two  birds) ;  they  are  rather  darker  than 
those  of  the  yellow-billed  cuckoo,  and  are  without  any  gloss. 
Size — 1.14  x  .80. 

The  Black-billed  Cuckoo  may  be  identified  by  its  black  bill, 
and  by  the  fact  that  the  tail  is  the  same  colour  as  the  back  and 
is  tipped  with  white.  The  nesting  habits  of  this  and  the  preced- 
ing species  are  very  similar.  The  black-billed  commences  laying 
about  two  weeks  earlier.  Both  birds  will  desert  their  nest  upon 
small  provocation,  and  will  not  as  a  rule  allow  of  a  near  approach 
while  sitting.  In  exceptional  cases  cuckoo's  (both  yellow  and 
black-billed)  eggs  are  found  in  the  nests  of  other  birds. 

There  is  some  doubt  as  to  whether  they  destroy  the  eggs  of 
small  birds ;  it  is  quite  possible  that  they  do  so,  but  I  have  never 
seen  any  evidence  of  it,  and,  with  Dr.  Shufeldt,  I  am  inclined  to 
discredit  such  stories. 


444.    Kingbird  :  Tyrannus  tyrannus  (Linn.) 

Adult—  Upper  parts  dull  grayish  slate  colour;  entire  head  much 
darker,  with  concealed  crest  of  bright  orange  ;  tail  tipped 
with  white;  under  parts  white.  Length — 8.51. 

Breeding  Range — Throughout  the  Eastern  States. 

The  nest  is  usually  placed  in  a  fruit  tree  near  the  end  of  a 
branch,  at  from  six  to  twenty-five  feet  of  the  ground.  It  is  a 
fairly  well-made  structure  of  weeds,  grass,  moss,  fine  roots,  strips 
of  grape-vine  bark,  leaves,  string,  and  catkins,  lined  with  thin  strips 
of  bark  and  horse  hair.  The  number  of  eggs  varies  from  3  to  5, 
5  being  a  common  number  ;  they  are  creamy  white,  sparsely 
spotted  and  blotched  with  blackish  or  chestnut  brown  and  light 
lilac  gray;  there  are  great  variations  both  in  size,  colour,  and 
markings.  Average  size— .98  x  .72.  See  Fig.  4,  Plate  D. 

These  somewhat  pugnacious  birds  may  be  found  in  the  more 
open  country  and  orchards;  their  peculiar  flight  and  white-tipped 
tail  render  them  easy  of  identification.  In  most  places  they  are 
very  common,  several  nests  being  often  found  in  a  single  orchard. 

136 


NEST   AND    EGGS    OF    YLLLOW-BiLLED    C'JCKOO. 


Nests  in  Trees,  Bushes,  or  Vines 

Near  New  York  they  nest  about  the  beginning  of  June  or  end 
of  May. 

445.    Gray  Kingbird  :  Tyrannus  dominicensis  (Gmel.) 

Very  similar  to  the  preceding,  but  somewhat  larger  and  with- 
out the  white  at  the  tip  of  the  tail. 

Breeding  Range — South  Carolina,  southward. 

The  nest  is  not  as  large  or  compact  as  that  of  the  common 
kingbird;  the  materials  used  in  its  construction  are  much  the  same; 
it  is  placed  indiscriminately  in  bushes  or  trees,  usually  not  very 
far  from  water.  3  to  4  eggs  are  laid ;  they  are  pinkish  buff,  with 
spots  and  blotches  of  dark  brown  and  lilac.  Size — i.oox.75. 

The  breeding  season  begins  in  May. 


466a.    Alder  Flycatcher:  Empidonax  traillii  alnorum 
Brewst. 

Adult—  Upper  parts  greenish  brown ;  under  parts  whitish ;  grayish 
on  the  breast  ;  tinged  with  yellow  on  the  belly,  and  the  sides 
light  greenish  or  grayish  brown.  Length — 6.09. 

Breeding  Range — Northern  New  England  and  Michigan. 

The  nest  is  built  in  the  crotch  of  a  small  bush  within  eight 
or  nine  feet  of  the  ground,  usually  near  water.  It  is  composed  of 
grasses,  weeds,  bark,  and  plant-down,  sometimes  lined  with  horse 
hair,  and  somewhat  resembles  the  nest  of  the  yellow  warbler;  it 
is,  of  course,  rather  larger.  The  eggs,  3  to  4  in  number,  are  white 
or  creamy  white,  dotted,  spotted,  or  blotched,  chiefly  at  their  larger 
end,  with  dark  reddish  or  purplish  brown.  Size — .74  x  .51. 

This  bird  is  the  more  eastern  sub-species  of  Traill's  flycatcher, 
and  resembles  it  closely. 


467.    Least  Flycatcher:  Empidonax  minimus  Baird 

Eggs  white  or  creamy,  rarely  speckled. 
See  Page  174,  Chapter  IX. 


Nests  in  Trees,  Bushes,  or  Vines 

477.    Blue  Jay:  Cyanocitta  cristata  (Linn.) 

Adult—  Upper  parts  bluish,  somewhat  tinged  with  purple;  head 
crested  ;  under  parts  grayish  white;  lighter  on  throat  and 
belly;  a  black  line  across  the  breast,  neck,  and  head;  forehead 
black  ;  wings  and  tail  blue,  barred  with  black.  Length — 
11.74. 

Breeding  Range — Throughout  the  Eastern  States. 

The  nest  is  placed  in  any  sort  of  tree  or  bush,  from  four  to 
thirty-five  feet  up.  It  is  a  rather  bulky  and  ragged  affair  of  twigs, 
roots,  weeds,  rags,  and  string.  The  nest  shown  in  the  accom- 
panying photograph  was  made  of  twigs,  rags,  and  a  fair  amount 
of  mud.  I  do  not,  however,  think  that  mud  is  often  used  in 
their  construction.  The  eggs  number  from  3  to  6 ;  they  are 
greenish  or  yellowish  drab,  thickly  spotted  with  greenish  or 
reddish  brown  and  dull  lilac.  Size — i.i2x.82.  See  Fig.  16, 
Plate  D. 

The  many  peculiarities  of  this  bird  render  him  most  interest- 
ing; his  voice  and  some  of  his  habits  are  decidedly  against  him, 
while  his  appearance  and  cleverness  are  so  greatly  in  his  favour  that 
the  bad  traits  are  or  should  be  lost  sight  of.  As  a  pet  he  has  no 
equal,  his  tricks  causing  endless  amusement,  and  his  general 
character  is  good. 

The  young  are  very  helpless  at  first,  and  are  without  down  or 
feathers  ;  when  about  nine  days  old  their  eyes  open  ;  they  have 
pin-feathers  and  down,  and  to  some  extent  they  are  able  to  use 
their  feet.  By  the  time  they  are  about  sixteen  days  old  they  are 
ready  to  leave  the  nest.  The  breeding  season  begins  about  the 
first  week  in  May. 

As  they  feed  largely  on  acorns  a  grove  of  oak  trees  proves  a 
great  attraction  to  the  blue  jay  population  of  any  locality. 


477a.    Florida  Blue  Jay:  C.  c.  florincola  Coues 

This  is  a  rather  smaller  and  grayer  sub-species  of  the  com- 
mon blue  jay.  It  is  found  in  Florida  and  southern  Texas.  The 
nesting  habits  and  eggs  do  not  differ  materially  from  those  of  the 
preceding  species. 

138 


NEST  AND  EGGS  OF  BLUE  JAY 


Nests  in  Trees,  Bushes,  or  Vines 

479.    Florida  Jay;  Scrub  Jay:  Aphelocoma  floridana 
(Bartr.) 

Adult — Back  grayish  brown  ;  rest  of  upper  parts  bluish  ;  throat 
and  breast  whitish,  more  or  less  streaked  with  bluish  gray, 
which  colour  forms  band  across  breast ;  belly  the  same  colour, 
without  the  streaks.  Length — 1 1.50. 

Breeding  Range — Florida. 

The  nest  is  composed  of  twigs,  leaves,  moss,  roots,  etc., 
and  is  placed  in  bushes  or  scrub.  4  or  5  eggs  are  laid  ;  they  are 
light  bluish  green  with  reddish  or  black  spots.  Size  1.13  x  .75. 

The  Florida  or  Scrub  Jay  is  locally  distributed  through  Flor- 
ida, usually  fairly  common  near  water.  The  nesting  season  be- 
gins in  March. 

484.    Canada  Jay;  Whiskey  Jack;   Meat  Hawk;  Moose- 
bird  :   Perisoreus  canadensis  (Linn.) 

Adult — Upper  parts  gray  ;  the  back  of  head  and  neck  black  ;  a 
large  white  spot  on  the  front  of  head  ;  under  parts  delicate 
gray,  with  whitish  on  the  throat  and  sides  of  neck.  Length — 
12.00. 

Breeding  Range — Northern  New  England  and  northward. 

The  nest  is  composed  of  twigs  and  strips  of  bark,  with  a 
thick  lining  of  moss  and  feathers,  and  is  placed  in  a  fir  tree  close 
to  the  trunk,  at  no  very  great  distance  from  the  ground.  The 
eggs,  which  number  from  4  to  6,  are  grayish  white,  marked 
evenly  or  chiefly  at  the  larger  end  with  distinct  and  faint  spots  of 
brown.  Size — 1.12  x  .80. 

This  graceful  fluffy  bird  is  at  once  the  companion  and  the 
tormentor  of  the  sportsman  when  camping  out  in  the  lonely 
forests  of  Maine  or  northward.  If  he  happens  to  be  alone  it  is  a 
pleasure  to  have  these  birds  frequent  the  camp,  even  at  the  cost 
of  the  dainty  morsels  that  attract  these  keen-eyed  thieves,  who 
will  drop  from  their  look-out  perch  and  seize  the  treasure,  rapidly 
retreating  towards  a  place  of  safety. 

A  piece  of  meat  must  indeed  be  carefully  covered  to  protect 
it  from  these  active  pilferers  ;  they  are  so  absolutely  tame  (unless 
fired  at)  that  they  will  even  eat  from  one's  hand  upon  slight 
acquaintance. 

'39 


Nests  in  Trees,  Bushes,  or  Vines 

The  nests  are  begun  as  early  as  February,  even  when  the 
snow  lays  thick  on  the  ground  and  the  temperature  is  far  below 
zero. 

498.    Red-winged   Blackbird:  Agelaius  phoeniceus 
(Linn.) 

Eggs  pale  greenish  blue  or  pearly  white,  with  either  blotches 
or  scrawls  of  dark  purplish  brown,  faint  cloudy  blotches  of  dull 
purplish  brown,  and  spots  of  black. 

See  Page  77,  Chapter  IV. 

51  1.    Purple  Crackle;   Crow  Blackbird:  Quiscalus 
quiscula  (Linn.) 

Adults — Purple,  blue,  and  green  iridescent  black,  the  irides- 
cence on  the  rump  forming  bars.  Length — 12.00. 

Adult  y. — Much  less  iridescence. 

Breeding  Range — "  In  the  lower  Mississippi  Valley  and  east  of 
the  Alleghanies,  from  Georgia  to  Massachusetts."  (Chap- 
man.) 

The  nest  is  a  bulky  structure  of  twigs,  grasses,  and  some- 
times mud,  with  lining  of  grass  ;  it  is  placed  in  a  bush  or  tree 
(usually  an  evergreen)  from  six  to  sixty  feet  from  the  ground, 
and  occasionally  in  the  hollow  of  a  stump  or  tree.  The  eggs 
number  from  3  to  6  ;  they  vary  greatly  both  in  colour  and  mark- 
ing ;  the  ground  colour  is  creamy,  bluish,  light  green,  gray,  or 
even  brownish,  while  the  markings  may  be  blotches,  spots, 
cloudings,  large  broad  or  small  fine  scrawls  of  faint  lilac,  blackish, 
and  various  shades  of  brown  and  purple.  Size — 1.18  x.84. 
See  Fig.  3,  Plate  D. 

The  breeding  begins  from  early  in  April  to  the  middle  of 
May,  according  to  locality. 

51  la.    Florida  Crackle:  Q.  q.  aglaeus  Baird 
Closely  resembling  the  preceding  species,  but  smaller. 

Breeding  Range — Florida  and  the  southern  part  of  the  Gulf  States 
to  Texas  ;  north  along  the  Atlantic  coast  to  Virginia.  (A. 
O.  U.  check-list.) 

Nesting  habits  vary  only  according  to  natural  conditions  ; 
eggs  similar  to  those  of  the  purple  grackle. 

140 


Nests  in  Trees,  Bushes,  or  Vines 

51  lb.    Bronzed  Crackle:  Q.  q.  aeneus  (Ridgw.) 

Adults — Iridescent  blue,  purple,  green,  and  bronze,  without  the 
bars  on  the  rump,  very  similar  to  the  two  preceding  species  ; 
nearly  the  same  as  Quiscalus  quiscula. 

Adult^. — More  brown  than  the  male,  with  more  or  less  irides- 
cence. 

Breeding  Range — "From  Texas  to  Great  Slave  Lake,  east  to  the 
Alleghanies,  as  far  north  as  Pennsylvania,  and  north  of 
this  eastward  to  Connecticut,  and  northward  to  Labrador." 
(Chapman.) 

The  breeding  habits,  nests,  and  eggs  are  almost,  if  not  quite, 
identical  with  those  of  the  two  preceding  species. 

513.    Boat-tailed  Crackle:  Quiscalus  major  Vieill. 

Adult& — Brilliant  blue  black,  or  almost  blue.     Length — 16.00. 
Adult^. — Upper  parts  brownish  ;  under  parts  dull  buff  or  snuff 

colour.     Length — 12.50. 
Breeding  Range — Florida,    north   to    Virginia   (near  the  Atlantic 

coast),  and  on  the  Gulf  coast  to  Texas. 

The  nest  is  a  large  structure  of  grass,  saw-grass,  sea-weed, 
roots,  mud,  sticks,  and  bark,  placed  in  saw-grass  or  other 
swamps,  or  in  bushes  or  trees,  usually  in  the  immediate  vicinity 
of  water.  The  eggs,  3  to  5  in  number,  are  bluish  or  greenish 
white  or  drab,  with  scrawls,  spots,  and  blotches  of  dark  purplish 
brown  or  black.  Size — 1.24  x  .81. 

These  beautiful  birds,  so  resplendent  in  their  bright  blue- 
black  coats,  appear  almost  like  flashes  of  blue  fire  as  they  dart 
among  the  deep  shadows  of  the  Florida  alder  swamps.  They 
are  strictly  gregarious  during  the  breeding  season,  which  begins 
in  April,  large  numbers  nesting  within  a  small  area. 

515.    Pine  Grosbeak:   Pinicola  enucleator  (Linn.) 

Adults — Reddish  rose  colour,  tinged  with  slaty  gray,  especially 
on  the  back  and  belly  ;  wings  brown,  with  whitish  edgings. 

Adults — Grayish,  tinged  with  yellowish  where  in  the  male  the 
rose  colour  is  most  pronounced.  Length — 9.08. 

Breeding  Range — Chiefly  to  the  north  of  the  United  States,  and 
probably  in  northern  New  England. 
141 


Nests  in  Trees,  Bushes,  or  Vines 

The  nest,  which  is  in  coniferous  trees,  is  "composed  of  a 
basement  of  twigs  and  rootlets,  within  which  is  a  more  compact 
fabric  of  finer  materials.  Eggs,  usually  4,  pale  greenish  blue, 
spotted  and  blotched  with  dark  brown  surface  markings  and  lilac 
shell  spots.  Size — 1.05  x  .74." 

The  Pine  Grosbeak  is  an  inhabitant  of  the  coniferous  forests 
of  the  north,  visiting  the  United  States  chiefly  during  the  winter 
months. 

517.    Purple  Finch:  Carpodacus   purpureus  (Gmel.) 

AJutt$—Rosy  purple  or  reddish,  with  more  or  less  brown,  and 

on  the  belly  white. 
Adult  % — Brownish,  streaked  with  black  on  the  back;    under 

parts  whitish,  with  spots  of  dark  brownish  gray.     Length — 

6.22. 
Breeding  Range — The  northern  United   States   (including  Long 

Island,  New  York),  northward. 

The  rather  shallow  nest  is  composed  of  fine  twigs,  roots, 
thin  strips  of  bark,  tendrils,  grass,  and  lined  with  grass  and 
hairs.  It  is  usually  placed  in  evergreen  trees,  at  a  height  of  from 
about  six  to  twenty  or  thirty  feet  from  the  ground.  The  eggs, 
numbering  from  4  to  6  (Chapman),  are  pale  blue  or  greenish,  with 
faint  purple  and  dark  brown  spots  or  small  blotches.  Size — 
.80  x  .60.  See  Fig.  21,  Plate  D. 

As  a  songster,  the  Purple  Finch  is  known  principally  in  New 
England  and  the  other  States  that  border  on  Canada.  By  the 
time  he  arrives  in  the  vicinity  of  New  York  City  his  song  is  almost 
gone  ;  nothing  but  a  soft  warble  remains  to  remind  one  of  the 
beautifully  mellow  song  of  the  mating  season.  The  nests  are  built 
towards  the  end  of  May,  and  frequently  two  broods  are  reared. 
Care  should  be  taken  that  the  female  is  not  mistaken  for  a  sparrow, 
her  colouring  and  shape  making  such  a  mistake  quite  possible. 

521.    Red  Crossbill;  American  Crossbill:  Loxia 
curvirostra  minor  (Brehm.) 

Adult  $  — Red  or  reddish,  except  the  wings  and  tail,  which  are 

brown. 
Adults—  Dull   yellowish;   back  slightly  mottled;   under  parts 

whitish,  somewhat  streaked  ;  the  tips  of  the  bill  are  crossed. 

Length — 6.19. 

143 


Nests  in  Trees,  Bushes,  or  Vines 

Breeding  Range — In  the  Alleghanics,  from  North  Carolina  north- 
ward, and  in  the  Northern  States. 

The  nest  is  usually  placed  in  evergreens  at  a  height  vary- 
ing from  fourteen  feet  upwards.  It  is  composed  of  strips  of 
bark,  small  twigs,  roots,  and  leaves,  lined  with  moss,  hair,  grass, 
and  pine  roots.  The  eggs,  3  to  4  in  number,  are  pale  green- 
ish, with  spots,  dots,  and  blotches  of  purple  brown  and  light 
lilac  gray,  chiefly  at  the  larger  end.  Size — .83  x  .55. 

These  eccentric-looking  birds  may  be  readily  distinguished 
from  the  white-winged  crossbills  by  the  fact  that  they  have  no 
white  on  the  wings;  their  crossed  bills  serve  to  distinguish  them 
from  any  other  of  the  finches.  The  breeding  season  begins  as 
early  as  February  or  March.  (Davie.) 

522.    White-winged  Crossbill:    Loxia   leucoptera  Gmel. 

Adult  &  — Upper  parts  pinkish  red  ;  somewhat  streaked  with  deep 
brown  on  the  back;  under  parts  pinkish  red,  shading  into 
grayish  on  the  belly;  wings  black,  with  white  markings. 

Adult^ — Upper  parts  dull  greenish  yellow,  somewhat  mottled 
with  dark  brown;  under  parts  grayish  yellow,  with  dark 
brown  mottling;  wings  have  white  markings;  tips  of  bills 
crossed.  Length — 6.05. 

Breeding  Range — From  the  Northern  States,  northward. 

The  nest  is  composed  of  "twigs  and  strips  of  birch  bark, 
covered  exteriorly  with  moss  (Usnea)  and  lined  with  soft  moss 
and  hair,  on  the  fork  of  an  evergreen  in  deep  forests." 

The  eggs  are  pale  blue,  rather  thickly  covered  at  the  larger 
end  with  fine  dots  of  blackish  and  lilac  gray.  Size — .80  x  .56. 

This  is  by  no  means  so  common  a  bird  as  its  relative,  the 
American  or  red  crossbill,  and  but  little  is  known  of  its  breeding 
habits.  During  the  present  winter  (1899-1900)  these  birds  have 
been  very  common  in  South  Orange,  New  Jersey,  and  have 
usually  been  seen  in  company  of  the  American  crossbill. 

529.    American  Goldfinch;    Yellow-bird:    Spinus  tristis 
(Linn.) 

Adults  — Lemon»yellow,  except  the  crown,  wings,  and  tail,  which 

are  black. 
Adult  ?  — Dull  greenish  or  olive  yellow  ;  nearly  white  on  the 


Nests  in  Trees,  Bushes,  or  Vines 

lower  breast  and  belly ;  wings  and  tail  dark  brownish  gray. 
Length — 5. 10. 

Breeding  Range — Throughout  the  Eastern  States  north  of  South 
Carolina. 

The  nest  is  a  compact  cup-like  structure  of  fine  grass,  moss, 
vegetable  fibre,  snugly  lined  with  thistle  and  other  plant-down. 
It  is  placed  in  the  crotch  of  a  bush  or  tree,  and  sometimes  in  a 
coarse  fern  or  a  large  thistle.  It  is  seldom  more  than  thirty-five 
feet  from  the  ground.  The  eggs,  3  to  6  in  number,  are  very  pale 
blue,  very  rarely  marked  with  fine  dots.  Size — .65  x  .52. 

Thoroughly  good  companions  are  these  cheerful  little  birds; 
their  very  note  as  they  fly  from  field  to  field  or  from  one  tall 
seed-bearing  stalk  to  another  is  full  of  overflowing  good  spirits. 
Except  during  the  short  nesting  season,  which  is  usually  delayed 
until  the  thistle-down  is  ready  for  the  lining  of  their  cozy  nests, 
they  keep  together  in  small  flocks,  frequenting  the  fields  where 
seeds  are  abundant. 

In  winter,  when  the  males  have  lost  their  bright  yellow 
colouring,  they  may  be  seen  hanging  from  the  dried  stems  of  the 
golden-rod,  feeding  on  the  fluffy  seeds.  The  nesting  site  may 
be  in  an  open  field  where  small  bushes  are  scattered  about,  or 
it  may  be  in  openings  or  clearings  in  the  woods  where  the  tall 
ferns  or  scrubby  growth  are  to  the  birds'  fancy.  The  regular 
time  for  nest-building  is  towards  the  end  of  June,  but  it  is  often 
delayed  until  July,  or  even  August,  and  only  in  exceptional  cases 
is  it  early  in  June. 

533.    Pine  Siskin;  Pine  Finch:   Spinus  pinus  (Wils.) 

Adult—  Upper  parts  brownish  and  buffy  gray,  streaked  ;  base  of 
tail  and  wing  feathers  sulphur  yellow;  under  parts  light 
buffy  gray  or  whitish  streaked  with  dark  brown.  Length 
—5.00. 

Breeding  Range—  Northern  New  England,  New  York,  and  Michi- 
gan, northward. 

The  nest  is  placed  at  a  considerable  height  from  the  ground, 
usually  in  coniferous  trees,  and  is  made  of  grass,  pine  needles, 
and  fine  roots,  lined  with  plant-down,  hair,  and  feathers.  4  eggs 
are  laid ;  they  are  very  pale  greenish  blue,  spotted  more  or  less 
with  purplish  or  reddish  brown.  Size— .68  x  .48. 

144 


NEST   AND    EGGS   OF    CHIPPING    SPARROW 


Nests  in  Trees,  Bushes,  or  Vines 

Within  the  United  States  these  nests  are  rare,  as  the  birds 
breed  chiefly  further  north.  The  season  for  nesting  in  northern 
New  York  is  from  early  in  May  to  the  middle  of  June. 


552.    Lark  Sparrow ;  Lark  Finch :  Chondestes 
grammacus  (Say) 

Eggs  resembling  those  of  the  Baltimore  oriole,  whitish,  with 
spots  and  dark  purplish  scrawl-like  markings. 

See  Page  47,  Chapter  1. 

558.    White-throated  Sparrow:   Zonotrichia  albicollis 
(Gmel.) 

Eggs  white  or  bluish  white,  with  fine  marks  and  heavy 
blotches  of  different  shades  of  brown. 

See  Page  60,  Chapter  II. 

56O.    Chipping  Sparrow:  Spizella  socialis  (Wils.) 

Adult — Upper  parts  streaked  with  black,  rufous  gray,  and  buff ; 

top  of  head  rufous;  under  parts  light  gray.     Length — 5.37. 
The  young  are  without  the  rufous  crown,  and  with 

streaks  on  the  breast  in  first  plumage. 
Breeding  Range — Throughout  the  Eastern  States. 

The  nest  is  composed  chiefly  of  fine  grass  and  fine  roots, 
with  hairs  for  lining.  It  is  shallow,  and  is  placed  in  vine,  bush, 
or  tree,  at  a  height  from  the  ground  of  from  one  to  twenty-five 
feet;  there  are  very  exceptional  instances  of  the  nest  being  on 
the  ground. 

3  to  5  eggs  are  laid ;  they  are  rather  light  blue,  tinged  with 
green,  with  few  fine  spots,  and  sometimes  fine  scrawls  of  light 
and  dark  purplish  brown  at  the  larger  end.  Size — .70  x  .51. 
See  Fig.  8,  Plate  D. 

These  common  little  sparrows  are  well  known  as  being  of  a 

social  disposition,  breeding  usually  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  a 

dwelling,  and  often  building  their  frail  nest  in  the  vines  that  grow 

against  the  house.     When   in   captivity  they  lose   to  a  great 

10  145 


Nests  in  Trees,  Bushes,  or  Vines 

extent  their  sociable  qualities,  and  are,  therefore,  not  very  desirable 
pets.  The  eggs  are  laid  early  in  May,  and  usually  two  broods  are 
reared  during  the  season. 

561.    Clay-coloured  Sparrow :  Spizella  pallida  (Swains.) 

Closely  resembling  the  preceding  species  ;  the  upper  parts 
are  colder  in  colour,  and  the  under  parts  lighter. 

Breeding  Range— From  northern  Illinois  westward. 

The  nest  is  of  grass  and  hair,  and  is  placed  in  low  bushes  or 
on  the  ground,  near  brush  or  at  the  edge  of  woods.  The  eggs, 
from  3  to  6  in  number,  are  similar  to  those  of  the  chipping  spar- 
row. 

563.    Field  Sparrow :  Spizella  pusilla  (Wils.) 

Eggs  white  or  greenish,  with  numerous  small  reddish  spots 
or  blotches  ;  some  eggs  are  very  sparsely  spotted. 

See  Page  48,  Chapter  I. 


567.    Snow-bird;  Junpo:  Junco  hyemalis  (Linn.) 

Eggs  greenish  or  bluish  white,  spotted  or  blotched  with  red- 
dish and  purplish  brown. 

See  Page  61,  Chapter  II. 


567e.    Carolina  Snow-bird,  or  Junco:  J.  h.  carol inensis 
Brewst. 

Eggs  similar  to  the  preceding. 

See  Page  61,  Chapter  II. 

581.    Song  Sparrow:  Melospiza  fasciata  (Gmel.) 

Eggs  white,  tinged  with  blue  or  green  with  irregular  brownish 
blotches  or  markings. 

See  Page  49,  Chapter  I. 
146 


, 


-'•"V 


•I 


V'     - 


1'.' 


1.      Wood  Pewpe. 


Pine  Warbler. 
Purple  Grackl 
Kingbird. 


5.  Loggerhead  Snnke. 

6.  Yellow-breasted   Gnat. 


7.  Pa-nted  Bunting. 

8.  Cnippmg  Sparrow. 

9.  Catbird. 

10.  American    Robin. 

11.  Wood  Thrush. 


'?.  Rose-breasted  G-osbea 

13.  Scariet  Tanager. 

14.  YeHow  Warble-. 

'5.  Chestnut-sided  Warble 

16.  Blue  jay. 


'7.  Cardinal. 

'8.  Mockingbird 

19.  Cowbird. 

20.  Prothonotary  Warbler. 

21.  Purple  Finch. 


Nests  in  Trees,  Bashes,  or  Vines 


587.    Chewink  ;  Towhee :  Pipilo  erythrophthalmus  (Linn.) 

Eggs  white,  tinged  with  blue  or  pink,  evenly  speckled  and 
rarely  blotched  with  brown. 

See  Page  64,  Chapter  II. 


587a.    White-eyed  Chewink,  or  Towhee :  P.  e.  alleni 
Coues 

Eggs  bluish  white,  unmarked  or  thickly  speckled  with  pinkish 
vinaceous  and  pearly  gray. 

See  Page  64,  Chapter  II. 

593.    Cardinal;  Red-bird:  Cardinalis  cardinalis  (Linn.) 

Adult  $  —  Rich  red  or  cardinal ;  wings  and  back  tinged  with  reddish 
gray;  throat  and  region  round  bill  black;  crest  conspicuous. 

Adult  ? — Upper  parts  brownish,  with  a  tinge  of  dull  purplish  ; 
under  parts  lighter  and  more  gray,  with  a  tinge  of  red;  crest 
dull  red.  Length — 8.25. 

Breeding  Range — From  Florida  northward  ;  common  locally  in 
northern  New  Jersey,  less  common  in  southern  New  York, 
and  rare  as  far  north  as  southern  New  England. 

The  nest  is  in  a  bush,  usually  in  a  thick  tangle,  either  in  a  damp 
or  dry  place,  at  a  height  of  from  three  to  twelve  feet  from  the 
ground. 

It  is  composed  of  twigs,  tendrils,  grape-vine  bark,  leaves, 
coarse  grass,  and  fine  roots,  lined  with  fine  grass,  roots,  and  rarely 
horse  hair.  In  general  appearance  it  is  larger  and  more  compact 
than  the  nest  of  the  rose-breasted  grosbeak.  The  eggs,  number- 
ing from  3  to  4,  rarely  5,  vary  greatly;  the  ground  colour  is  whitish 
or  tinged  with  blue,  green,  or  ashy,  with  numerous  irregular  spots 
and  sometimes  blotches  of  light  and  dark  brown,  and  light  pur- 
plish gray  chiefly  at  the  larger  end.  Size — i.oo  x  .72.  See  Fig. 
17,  Plate  D. 

This  beautiful  songster  is  one  of  the  best  known  birds  of  the 
Southern  States ;  his  fine  colouring  together  with  his  splendid  sing- 
ing qualities  combine  against  him,  and  as  a  result  he  is  a  constant 
article  of  commerce  both  in  this  country  and  abroad. 

H7 


Nests  in  Trees,  Bushes,  or  Vines 

The  female  cardinal,  though  more  subdued  in  colouring,  is 
by  no  means  inferior  to  her  mate  in  her  powers  of  singing  ;  her 
song  is  rather  softer,  but  not  less  beautiful.  The  breeding  sea- 
son begins  about  the  third  week  in  April. 

593d.    Florida  Cardinal:   C.  c.  floridanus  Ridgw. 

A  geographical  race  of  the  common  cardinal,  rather  smaller 
and  not  so  intensely  coloured.  The  nesting  habits  and  eggs  are 
identical  with  those  of  the  more  northern  bird. 

Breeding  Range — Florida. 

This  is  a  very  common  bird  in  most  parts  of  Florida,  frequent- 
ing the  vicinity  of  houses,  clearings,  or  hummocks  ;  they  are  ex- 
ceedingly tame,  and  lend  a  cheerful  bit  of  colour  and  song  to  the 
somewhat  monotonous  scenery  of  most  parts  of  Florida. 

595.    Rose-breasted  Grosbeak :   Habia  ludoviciana  (Linn.) 

Adult  $ — Head,  throat,  and  back  black  ;  breast  carmine  ;  under 
wing  coverts  rose  colour  ;  belly  white  ;  wings  black,  with 
white  markings  ;  tail  black  tipped  with  white  ;  the  beak,  as 
the  bird's  name  implies,  is  very  thick  and  strong.  Length — 
8.15. 

Adult  $  —  Head,  back,  and  breast  warm  gray  or  buff,  with  brown 
markings  ;  the  head  has  a  buff  line  on  the  crown,  with  a  dark 
line  on  either  side,  and  a  conspicuous  white  line  over  the 
eye  ;  wings  and  tail  grayish  brown  ;  the  under  wing  coverts 
are  bright  golden  yellow. 

Immature  $  and  $  —  Resemble  each  other,  the  colour  being  much 
the  same  as  that  of  the  adult  ?  ,  but  rather  lighter,  the  only 
marked  difference  being  in  the  under  wing  coverts,  which 
in  the  $  are  bright  yellow,  and  in  the  $  rose  colour.  When 
about  three  months  old  the  $  shows  a  decidedly  warm  buff 
colour  on  the  breast,  with  undefined  wine-coloured  mark- 
ings ;  the  back  becomes  darker  and  also  warmer  in  tone. 

The  $  has  the  line  over  the  eye  nearly  white;  the  throat 
very  pale  gray,  with  dark  brownish  gray  markings,  and  is  in 
general  appearance  much  colder  in  tone  than  the  $  . 

3  ,  eighteen  months  old — The  head  and  back  black,  mot- 
tled with  buff  ;  line  over  eye  light  buff ;  throat  and  upper 
part  of  breast  buff,  with  reddish  suffusions  and  fine  black 
marks  ;  breast  rather  dull  carmine,  with  a  few  dark  spots 
and  a  tinge  of  buff  ;  sides  light  buff,  streaked  slightly  with 

148 


Nests  in  Trees,  Bushes,  or  Vines 

dark  brown  ;  belly  white  ;  wings  black,  with  white  feathers, 
each  white  feather  tipped  with  buff. 

Breeding  Range — The  Eastern  States,  from  North  Carolina  (in  the 
more  elevated  regions)  northward  to  New  England. 

The  nest  is  shallow,  and  loosely  constructed  of  dry  vine  ten- 
drils and  small  twigs,  at  a  height  of  seven  to  fifteen  feet  from  the 
ground,  placed  in  blackberry  or  other  vines,  in  bushes,  or  in 
trees.  The  eggs,  from  3  to  5  in  number,  are  pale  greenish 
blue,  nearly  covered  by  small  irregular  brownish  and  lilac  mark- 
ings. Size— .96  x  .73.  See  Fig.  12,  Plate  D. 

It  is  not  a  difficult  nest  to  find,  as  the  male  bird,  whose  brilliant 
colour  makes  him  so  conspicuous,  is  generally  to  be  discovered  near 
by,  and  when  the  nest  is  threatened  by  the  intruder  he  becomes 
greatly  excited,  uttering  an  oft-repeated  sharp,  piercing  note,  and 
occasionally  breaking  into  that  beautiful  soft  song  so  peculiar  to 
the  grosbeak.  When  he  is  seen  to  act  in  that  manner  there  is 
sure  to  be  a  nest  not  far  away,  and  a  little  patient  searching  will 
discover  its  whereabouts.  The  nest  when  found  will  probably 
cause  some  surprise  by  the  apparently  insecure  manner  in  which 
it  is  placed.  Most  birds  weave  their  nests  around  branches  or 
vines,  but  the  grosbeaks  seldom  take  such  precaution ;  they  usually 
build  their  nest  in  or  on  the  fork  of  a  branch,  from  which  it  may 
be  removed  without  disturbing  it  in  any  way.  A  likely  place  for 
the  nest  is  near  the  banks  of  a  stream,  where  the  bushes  grow 
thick. 

The  young  leave  the  nest  when  about  eleven  days  old.  If 
taken  at  that  age  they  may  be  easily  reared,  as  they  are  remark- 
ably hardy  and  become  absolutely  tame  in  a  very  short  while. 
Few  birds  make  better  pets  ;  they  are  sociably  inclined — even 
affectionate,  if  I  may  use  the  term  when  speaking  of  birds — beau- 
tiful in  appearance,  and  the  male  bird  sings  a  delightfully  sweet 
song,  which  he  commences  when  ten  weeks  old.  If  left  in  a 
lighted  room,  they  sing  until  late  at  night.  The  breeding  season 
near  New  York  begins  about  the  third  week  in  May. 


597.    Blue  Grosbeak:  Guiraca  caerulea  (Linn.) 

Adult  $ — Deep  and  rather  obscure  blue;   nearly  black  on  the 
back  ;  chin  and  in  front  of  eyes  black. 

149 


Nests  in  Trees,  Bushes,  or  Vines 

Adult  $  —  Upper  parts  grayish  brown,  tinged  more  or  less  with 
blue  ;  under  parts  creamy  brown.  Length — 7.00. 

Breeding  flange— From  southern  New  Jersey  and  southern  Illinois, 
southward. 

The  nest  is  composed  of  leaves,  plant  stems,  and  some- 
times a  piece  of  snake  skin,  and  is  lined  with  fine  roots  and  hair. 
It  is  placed  in  bushes  or  vines,  usually  from  five  to  thirty  feet 
from  the  ground.  3  to  4  pale  bluish  eggs,  rarely  spotted  with 
reddish  brown,  are  laid.  Size — .84  x  .63. 

These  rather  rare  birds  frequent  scrubby  ground  and  thickets, 
where  they  commence  nesting  in  May. 


598.    Indigo-bird;   Indigo   Bunting:  Passerina  cyanea 
(Linn.) 

Adult  $  —  Intense  blue  on  the  head  ;  other  parts  rather  lighter. 
Adult  $  —  Upper  parts  plain  brownish  ;  under  parts  grayish,  the 

breast  being  indistinctly  streaked.     Length — 5.59. 
Breeding  Range — Thioughout  the  Eastern  States. 

The  nest  is  composed  of  grass,  leaves,  downy  seeds,  and 
fine  roots,  lined  with  fine  grass  and  hair.  It  is  usually  near  the 
ground  (sometimes  within  one  foot),  in  a  low  bush  or  weeds  ;  if 
in  a  bush,  it  is  placed  in  a  crotch  ;  if  in  weeds,  such  as  the  Joe- 
pye  weed,  nettle,  or  others  of  a  similar  nature,  it  is  hung  from 
the  stems,  with  practically  no  support  from  beneath.  3  to  4 
white  eggs  are  laid  ;  they  are  slightly  tinged  with  blue  and  rarely 
marked  with  fine  dots.  Size — .75  x  .55. 

While  the  male  Indigo-bird  perches  on  the  telegraph  pole — 
a  blue  spot  against  a  blue  sky — and  sings  throughout  the  summer 
day,  his  sparrow-like  mate  is  attending  to  her  household  duties 
in  the  scrub  below.  She  attracts  no  attention  ;  her  dusky  colour 
and  quiet  manner  will  never  draw  any  person  to  her  carefully 
hidden  nest.  During  the  tedious  duties  of  incubation  she  is 
visited  repeatedly  by  her  mate,  but  he  goes  to  and  from  the  nest 
in  such  an  erratic  manner  that  it  is  most  difficult  to  follow  him. 
The  nest,  which  is  not  at  all  a  neat  structure,  requires  from  two 
to  four  days  to  build.  The  eggs  hatch  after  ten  days  of  incuba- 
tion, and  in  a  surprisingly  short  time  the  young  are  ready  to  leave 
the  nest  and  hide  themselves  in  the  tangle  of  vines  and  bushes. 

150 


INDIGO-BIRD'S  NEST,    ATTACHED    TO    UPRIGHT    STEMS 


Nests  in  Trees,  Bushes,  or  Vines 

In  the  neighbourhood  of  New  York  the  breeding  season  begins 
towards  the  end  of  May. 

6O1.    Painted   Bunting:    Passerina  ciris  (Linn.) 

Adult  $  —  Entire  head  and  sides  of  neck  deep  blue  ;  back  rich 
yellowish  green  ;  rump  dark  red  ;  the  wings  and  tail  are 
brownish  gray,  tinged  with  red  ;  under  parts  vermilion. 

Adult  $  —  Upper  parts  greenish  ;  under  parts  grayish  or  yellow- 
ish. Length — 5.25. 

Breeding  Range — From  North  Carolina  and  southern  Illinois, 
southward. 

The  nest  is  placed  either  in  a  bush  or  tree,  and  is  composed 
of  grass,  leaves,  weed  stalks,  and  strips  of  bark,  lined  with  fine 
roots  and  sometimes  hair.  It  resembles  the  nest  of  the  indigo- 
bird,  but  is  more  neatly  made.  3  to  5  eggs  are  laid  ;  they  are 
white  or  slightly  tinged  with  blue  or  gray  and  spotted  or  blotched 
with  chestnut  brown  and  lilac.  Size — .79  x  .58.  See  Fig.  7, 
Plate  D. 

These  buntings,  on  account  of  their  brilliant  colouring,  are 
much  sought  after  as  cage  birds  ;  their  shyness  saves  them  to 
some  extent,  for,  even  though  they  are  very  common  in  places, 
they  are  not  particularly  in  evidence.  They  breed  from  about 
the  middle  of  May  and  frequently  rear  two  broods. 

6O4.    Dickcissel;   Black-throated  Bunting:  Spiza 
americana  (Gmel.) 

Eggs  pale  blue. 

See  Page  50,  Chapter  I. 


6O8.    Scarlet  Tanager;   Red-bird:    Piranga  erythromelas 
Vieill. 

Adult  $ — In  summer  bright  scarlet,  except  the  wings  and  tail, 

which  are  black. 
Adult  $  — Yellowish  green ;  more  yellow  and  lighter  on  the  breast ; 

wings  and  tail  dull  brown.     Length — 7.25. 

In  the  autumn  and  winter  the  male  is  greenish,  with  black 

wings  and  tail. 
Breeding  Range — From  South  Carolina  northward. 


Nests  in  Trees,  Bushes,  or  Vines 

The  nest  is  a  thin,  flimsy  structure  of  fine  roots,  tendrils,  small 
sticks,  and  sometimes  straws,  placed  in  a  tree,  usually  on  a  hori- 
zontal branch  (seldom  in  a  crotch)  at  from  six  to  twenty-five  feet 
from  the  ground. 

The  eggs,  numbering  from  3  to  5  (3  being  a  very  common 
number),  are  clear  greenish  blue,  finely  spotted,  mostly  at  the 
larger  end,  with  chestnut  and  purple.  Size — .96  x  .65.  See  Fig. 
13,  Plate  D. 

The  Scarlet  Tanager  builds  his  nest  in  almost  any  sort  of  tree 
and  in  almost  any  sort  of  place.  In  orchards  the  nests  are  common ; 
along  the  roadsides,  on  the  edge  of  woods,  they  often  build,  and 
occasionally  a  nest  is  found  in  the  deep  woods,  at  some  distance 
from  a  clearing.  The  breeding  season  commences  towards  the 
end  of  May;  in  the  vicinity  of  New  York,  before  June  ist.  The 
period  of  incubation  occupies  thirteen  days. 

61O.    Summer  Tanager;  Summer  Red-bird:  Piranga 
rubra  (Linn.) 

Adults — Bright  scarlet;  the  wings  and  tail  brownish,  edged  with 

red. 
Adult  $  —Olive  green  ;  under  parts  tinged  with  yellow.     Length 

—7.50. 
Breeding  Range — Southern  New  Jersey,  southward  (casually  north 

to  Massachusetts  and  Ontario  [A.  O.  U.  check-list] ). 

The  nest  is  composed  of  leaves,  weed  stalks,  grass,  catkins, 
and  strips  of  bark,  and  is  placed  on  a  horizontal  branch,  at  a  height 
of  from  six  to  twenty-five  feet  from  the  ground.  3  to  4  eggs  are 
laid ;  they  resemble  the  eggs  of  the  scarlet  tanager,  but  the  mark- 
ings are  heavier  and  more  brown.  Size — .94  x  .64. 

The  nesting  season,  which  begins  about  the  middle  of  May, 
continues  until  well  into  July. 


619.    Cedar-bird;  Cedar  Waxwing:  Ampelis  cedrorum 
(Vieill.) 

Adult—  Rich  light  grayish  or  purplish  brown,  with  conspicuous 
crest ;  throat,  forehead,  and  line  in  front  and  back  of  eye 
black  ;  small  scarlet  tips  to  the  wing  (secondaries)  and  tail 
feathers  ;  tail  tipped  with  yellow;  belly  pale  yellow.  Length 
—7.19. 

152 


NEST    OF    SCARLET   TANAGER    IN    APPLE   TREE    NINE  FEET  FROM  GROUND 


Nests  in  Trees,  Bashes,  or  Vines 

Breeding  flange— From  Virginia,  the  southern  Alleghanies,  Ken- 
tucky, Kansas,  Arizona,  etc.,  northward.  (A.  O.  U.  check- 
list.) 

The  nest  is  composed  of  grass,  bark,  fine  roots,  catkins, 
moss,  rags,  and  twine,  a  fine,  well-formed  structure,  which  some- 
times has  mud  added  to  its  long  list  of  building  materials.  It  is 
placed  from  five  to  twenty-five  feet  from  the  ground,  usually  in 
fruit  trees  or  cedars.  The  eggs  are  pale  gray  or  with  a  slight 
tinge  of  green,  and  thinly  spotted  with  purplish  black  and  light 
dull  purplish  ;  the  number  varies  from  3  to  5.  Size — .85  x  .60. 
See  Fig.  12,  Plate  B. 

There  is  no  bird  so  well  groomed  as  the  Waxwing  ;  his 
toilet  is  made  with  the  most  scrupulous  care  ;  never  is  there  a 
feather  out  of  place,  nor  a  spot  of  dirt  on  his  velvety  coat.  Well- 
drilled  companies  of  these  birds  may  be  seen  flying  rapidly  from 
tree  to  tree  in  search  of  berries  and  seeds  at  all  times,  except 
during  the  immediate  breeding  season.  When  they  are  seen  to 
be  feeding  on  the  alders,  you  may  know  it  will  not  be  long  be- 
fore the  nest  will  be  built.  In  the  vicinity  of  New  York,  eggs 
may  be  found  about  the  first  week  in  June. 

622.    Loggerhead  Shrike;   Butcher  Bird:   Lanius 
ludovicianus  Linn. 

Adult — Upper  parts  gray  ;  wings  black,  with  white  markings ; 
tail  black,  with  white  tips  ;  outside  feathers  white  ;  a  broad 
black  line  from  base  of  bill  to  back  of  cheek  ;  under  parts 
white  or  pearly  gray.  Length — 9.00. 

Breeding  Range — East  of  the  Alleghanies,  from  northern  Virginia 
southward,  and  occasionally  north  to  southern  New  Jersey. 
West  of  the  Alleghanies,  "northward  to  the  Great  Lakes, 
and  eastward  through  central  New  York  to  Vermont  and 
Maine." 

Note — The  shrike  found  breeding  in  northern  New  England  some- 
times resembles  more  or  less  the  white-rumped  shrike  (L. 
excubitorides),  and  is  occasionally  classified  as  such,  but  I 
believe  it  has  been  decided  not  to  change  the  name  of  ludo- 
vicianus, as  the  differences  are  too  slight  and  inconsistent. 

The  nest  is  composed  of  twigs,  leaves,  weeds,  bark,  grass, 
fine  roots,  and  lined  with  grass,  sometimes  wool  or  feathers  ;  it 
is  rather  bulky  and  loosely  made,  and  is  placed  in  a  bush  or  tree, 

i53 


Nests  in  Trees,  Bushes,  or  Vines 

often  a  thorny  bush  or  tree  being  chosen.  The  eggs  number  from 
3  to  6  ;  they  are  white,  more  or  less  tinged  with  yellow  or  green 
gray,  thickly  spotted,  chiefly  at  the  larger  end,  with  yellowish 
brown  and  lilac.  Size — .98  x  .80.  See  Fig.  5,  Plate  D. 

So  much  has  been  written  on  the  evil  propensities  of  this 
bird  that  he  possesses  a  thoroughly  bad  reputation,  and  is  spoken 
of  as  a  murderer ;  and  that  simply  because  he  is  provident  and 
lays  up  a  store  of  food  for  the  proverbial  rainy  day.  His  method 
leaves  something  to  be  desired,  it  is  true,  but  there  must  be  rea- 
son in  what  he  does,  and  I  cannot  believe  that  any  bird  is  cruel 
and  kills  for  the  sake  of  killing  ;  that  is  left  for  man.  The  Log- 
gerhead Shrike  catches  his  prey,  consisting  chiefly  of  grasshop- 
pers, and  impales  them,  often  before  they  are  dead,  on  a  thorn, 
to  be  eaten  at  leisure.  The  breeding  season  begins,  according 
to  locality,  from  May  to  June,  two  broods  being  usually  reared. 

638.    Swainson's  Warbler:   Helinaia  swainsonii  Aud. 

Adult — Upper  parts,  including  wings  and  tail,  olive  brown  ;  the 
crown  chestnut  ;  a  yellowish-white  stripe  over  the  eye  ; 
under  parts  yellowish  white,  shading  into  gray  on  the  sides. 
Length — 5.00. 

Breeding  Range — South  Carolina,  southward. 

The  nests  are  "made  outwardly  of  leaves  placed  in  layers, 
and  lined  with  pine  needles  and  fine  fibrous  roots"  (Davie). 
They  are  placed  in  bushes,  scrub,  palmetto,  or  cane,  either  in 
damp  or  dry  places.  3  to  4  pale  bluish-white  (unmarked)  eggs 
are  laid.  Size — .78  x  .57. 

This  rare  warbler  was  lost  sight  of  for  many  years,  and  was 
rediscovered  by  Mr.  A.  T.  Wayne,  of  Charleston,  South  Carolina, 
in  1885.  The  breeding  season  probably  begins  early  in  May. 

64O.    Bachman's  Warbler:   Helminthophila  bachmani 
(Aud.) 

Adult  $  — Upper  parts  :  Forehead  yellow  ;  a  black  patch  in  front 
of  crown  ;  crown  and  back  of  head  dull  gray  ;  back  and 
rump  olive  green  ;  tail  grayish  ;  under  parts  yellow,  with  a 
black  patch  on  breast. 

Adult  ?  — Without  the  black  on  the  head;  under  parts  whitish 
yellow.  Length— 4.25. 

154 


NEST    OF   THE    CEDAR-BIRD, 


Nests  in  Trees,  Bushes,  or  Vines 

Breeding  Range — Somewhat  uncertain ;  it  has  been  found  during 
the  summer  in  Missouri  and  Arkansas,  and  a  nest  was  found 
on  St.  Simon's  Island,  Georgia. 

The  nest  is  described  as  placed  in  vines  or  low  bushes,  and 
as  being  composed  of  grasses  and  fine  weeds,  lined  with  hair- 
like  fibre  and  fine  grass.  The  number  of  eggs  is  probably  4; 
they  are  dull  white,  spotted  chiefly  in  a  wreath-like  cluster  round 
the  larger  end  with  brown  and  lavender.  Size — .74  x  .60. 

642.    Golden-winged  Warbler:    Helminthophila 
chrysoptera  (Linn.) 

Eggs  white,  with  brownish  and  lilac  spots,  mostly  in  a 
wreath  round  the  larger  end. 

See  Page  67,  Chapter  II. 

647.    Tennessee  Warbler:  Helminthophila  peregrina 
(Wils.) 

Aditlt  $  —  Head  and  sides  of  face  bluish  gray,  abruptly  changing 
to  bright  olive  green  on  the  back  ;  the  wing  and  tail  feathers 
are  edged  with  green;  under  parts  white  tinged  with  yellow, 
and  shading  into  gray  on  the  sides. 

Adult  ? — The  crown  is  tinged  with  olive  green,  and  the  under 
parts  are  more  yellow.  Length — 5.00. 

Breeding  Range — From  northern  New  England  and  New  York, 
northward. 

The  nest  is  placed  near  the  ground  in  a  bush;  it  is  composed 
of  fine  vegetable  fibre,  grass,  and  moss,  and  lined  with  hair.  The 
eggs  are  pearly  white,  with  a  circle  of  brownish  and  purplish  spots 
round  the  larger  end.  Size — .60  x  .50. 

652.    Yellow  Warbler;  Canary;  Summer  Warbler; 
Yellow-bird:  Dendroica  sestiva  (Gmel.) 

Adult—  Upper  parts  bright  greenish  yellow  ;  under  parts  bright 
yellow,  more  or  less  streaked,  chiefly  on  the  sides,  with  chest- 
nut. Length — 5. 10. 

Breeding  Range — Throughout  the  Eastern  States. 

The  nest  is  made  chiefly  of  silver-coloured  plant  fibre,  with 
155 


Nests  in  Trees,  Bushes,  or  Vines 

leaves,  grass,  and  caterpillars'  silk,  lined  with  hairs,  feathers,  and 
the  downy  material  from  fern  stems.  It  is  a  beautiful,  compact 
nest,  placed  usually  in  a  low  bush  or  in  a  tree,  but  by  no  means 
always  within  ten  feet  of  the  ground.  3  to  5  eggs  are  laid;  they 
are  white  or  whitish,  with  a  wreath  of  spots  and  blotches  of 
chestnut  and  lilac  or  lavender,  and  a  few  very  dark  irregular 
markings  round  the  larger  end;  the  region  enclosed  by  the 
wreath  sometimes  is  light  brownish  with  reddish  spots,  and  there 
are  a  few  spots  of  chestnut  scattered  over  the  rest  of  the  surface. 
Size — .65  x  .46.  See  Fig.  14,  Plate  D. 

This  is  one  of  our  commonest  warblers;  it  is  usually  to  be 
found  in  rather  swampy  thickets  or  in  orchards.  The  nests,  which 
are  made  early  in  May,  are  exquisite  examples  of  bird  architecture ; 
they  are  very  frequently  placed  in  elder  bushes,  and  are  usually 
at  no  great  distance  from  water.  They  may  be  easily  found 
by  watching  the  conspicuous  yellow  birds  as  they  gather  the 
down  from  the  young  fern-stalks;  this  they  collect  in  large  quan- 
tities and  fly  directly  to  the  site  of  their  building  operations,  at- 
tracting attention  during  flight  by  their  oft-repeated  chee-wee. 
The  parent  birds  are  very  solicitous  for  the  welfare  of  their  young 
and  become  greatly  excited  if  the  nest  is  threatened. 

The  breeding  season  lasts  from  early  May  to  about  the  mid- 
dle of  June  and  as  a  rule  only  one  set  of  eggs  is  laid. 


654.    Black-throated  Blue  Warbler:  Dendroica 
caerulescens  (Gmel.) 

Adult&—  Upper  parts  slaty  blue;  throat,  side  of  head,  and  sides 

of  breast  black ;  breast  and  belly  white. 
Adult^. — Upper  parts  dull  olive  green,  a  white  spot  on  the  wing, 

under  parts  buffy  white.     Length — 5.28. 
Breeding  Range — Along   the    Alleghanies,    from    South    Carolina 

northward,  and  from  northern  United   States  northward  ; 

rarely  in  Connecticut. 

The  nest  is  placed  in  a  laurel,  a  yew,  or  other  tree,  according 
to  locality,  at  a  distance  from  the  ground  of  two  feet  and  up- 
wards. It  is  composed  of  bark,  grass,  pine  needles,  and  cocoons, 
lined  with  hair  and  fine  black  roots.  The  eggs,  usually  4  in 
number,  are  white,  tinged  with  either  buff  or  green,  blotched  and 

156 


NEST    OF    YELLOW    WARBLER    IN    ELDER   BUSH,  FIVE  FEET  FROM   GROUND 


Nests  in  Trees,  Bushes,  or  Vines 

spotted  with  chestnut  and  olive  brown,  chiefly  at  the  larger  end. 
Size — .72  x  .50. 

These  warblers  may  be  easily  identified — the  male  by  his 
black,  white,  and  gray  blue  colouring,  and  the  female  by  the  white 
patch  on  the  wing. 

The  breeding  place  is  often  in  the  damp  woods,  the  nests 
being  finished  about  the  middle  of  May. 

655.    Myrtle  or  Yellow-rumped  Warbler:  Dendroica 
coronata  (Linn.) 

Adult& — Upper  parts  bluish  gray,  streaked  with  black;  bright 
yellow  on  the  crown  and  rump  ;  cheeks  black  ;  throat  and 
belly  white  ;  breast  heavily  marked  with  black,  and  with 
a  yellow  patch  on  either  side  ;  wings  with  two  white  bars. 

Adult  ? — Similar,  but  the  plumage  is  duller.     Length — 5.65. 

Breeding  Range — From  the  northern  United  States  northward. 
(A.  O.  U.  check  list.) 

The  nest  is  composed  of  hemlock  twigs  and  various  soft 
vegetable  fibres,  lined  with  fine  grass,  feathers,  and  occasionally 
hair.  It  is  placed  usually  within  eight  feet  of  the  ground,  in 
coniferous  trees  and  sometimes  bushes.  The  eggs,  3  to  5  in 
number,  are  white  or  whitish,  spotted  and  blotched  with  light 
and  dark  purplish  and  reddish  brown  and  lilac  gray,  sometimes 
wreathed  round  the  larger  end.  Size — .70  x  .54. 

These  unmistakable  warblers,  with  their  yellow  patches,  are 
found  breeding  principally  in  the  large  forests  from  Maine  to 
northern  Ohio.  They  usually  choose  somewhat  damp  places  for 
their  nesting  purposes,  but  at  other  times  they  are  found  in  scat- 
tered flocks  throughout  the  more  open  country.  The  breeding 
season  begins  late  in  May. 

657.    Magnolia  or  Black  and  Yellow  Warbler:  Dendroica 
maculosa  (Gmel.) 

Adult& — Upper  parts  black,  a  white  patch  on  the  wing  ;  rump 
yellow  ;  crown  ashy  blue  ;  a  short  white  line  over  and  back 
of  eye  ;  cheek  black  ;  under  parts  yellow,  with  heavy  black 
streaks. 

Adults  —  Very  similar,  but  less  brilliant.     Length — 5. 12. 


Nests  in  Trees,  Bushes,  or  Vines 

Breeding  Range — The  higher  parts  of  the  Alleghanies,  from 
Virginia  northward  ;  northern  New  England  to  northern 
Michigan,  northward. 

The  nest  is  composed  of  twigs  (principally  hemlock),  grass, 
pine  needles,  and  weeds,  lined  with  fine  roots  and  hair-like  fibre. 
It  is  usually  placed  on  the  horizontal  branch  of  a  coniferous  tree, 
from  three  to  thirty-five  feet  from  the  ground.  The  eggs,  num- 
bering 4  to  5,  are  white  or  creamy  white,  blotched  and  spotted 
(sometimes  clouded  at  the  larger  end)  with  hazel,  brown,  and 
lilac  wreathed  round  the  larger  end.  Size — .65  x  .48. 

The  nest  is  generally  to  be  found  on  the  edge  of  paths  or 
clearings,  in  woods  of  firs  and  hemlocks ;  "sometimes  the  nests 
are  built  in  the  tops  of  young  hemlocks,  ten  to  fifteen  feet  up,  or 
in  the  heart  of  the  forest,  thirty-five  feet  above  the  ground." 

The  breeding  season  begins  about  the  beginning  of  June. 

658.    Cerulean  Warbler:  Dendroica  cserulea  (Wils.) 

Adult  $  — Upper  parts  pure  blue,  streaked  with  black  on  the  back 
and  sides  of  head;  under  parts  white,  streaked  with  blackish 
on  the  sides,  and  on  the  breast,  across  which  the  streaks  form 
an  irregular  band. 

Adult  ?  — Upper  parts  greenish  ;  under  parts  white,  tinged  more 
or  less  with  yellow.  Length — 4.50. 

"  Breeds  in  the  Mississippi  Valley  as  far  north  as  Minne- 
sota, and  eastward  as  far  as  Lockport,  New  York "  ;  rare 
east  of  the  Alleghanies. 

The  nest  is  made  of  grasses,  spider  web,  and  lichen,  lined 
with  fine  grass;  it  is  a  compact  structure  placed  at  a  considerable 
height  from  the  ground,  probably  not  less  than  twenty,  and  from 
that  up  to  fifty  feet.  The  eggs  are  white,  tinged  with  cream, 
blue,  or  green,  and  spotted  and  blotched  (sometimes  chiefly  at 
the  larger  end)  with  brownish  red  and  lilac  gray.  The  full  com- 
plement is  probably  4.  Size — .65  x  .50. 

The  nests  of  this  beautiful  blue  warbler  are  rather  rare,  not 
only  from  the  fact  that  the  birds  themselves  are  common  in  but 
few  places,  but  because  the  nests,  being  placed  on  high  branches 
in  the  forests,  are  exceedingly  difficult  to  find.  The  breeding 
season  probably  begins  about  the  middle  of  May,  or  perhaps 
rather  earlier.  • 

158 


NEST    AND    EGGS   OF    CHESTNUT-SIDED    WARBLER    IN    AZALEA,  TWO  FEET  FROM  GROUND 


Nests  in  Trees,  Bushes,  or  Vines 

659.    Chestnut-sided  Warbler:   Dendroica  pensylvanica 
(Linn.) 

Adult—  Upper  parts  greenish,  streaked  with  black  ;  crown  yellow; 
a  black  line  from  base  of  bill  on  sides  of  throat  to  upper  part 
of  breast,  where  it  joins  the  chestnut  patch  on  either  side  of  the 
breast  and  belly;  rest  of  under  parts  whitish.  Length — 5. 14. 

Breeding  Range.— In  the  Alleghanies,  northward  from  South  Can> 
lina,  and  from  northern  New  Jersey  and  Illinois  northward. 

The  nest  is  placed  in  low  bushes  at  a  height  from  eighteen 
inches  up  to  seven  or  eight  feet.  It  is  a  fairly  compact  nest,  about 
an  inch  and  a  half  deep  inside,  composed  of  grass,  thin  strips  of 
bark,  a  small  amount  of  plant  fibre,  and  lined  with  fine  grass, 
hair,  and  hair-like  roots.  Seldom  more  than  4  eggs  are  laid;  they 
are  white,  with  light  reddish-brown  and  pale  lavender  spots,  most 
of  which  form  an  irregular  wreath  round  the  larger  end.  Size — 
.68  x  .50.  See  Fig.  15,  Plate  D. 

The  Chestnut-sided  Warbler  arrives  at  the  southern  portion 
of  his  lowland  range  (New  Jersey)  about  the  first  week  in  May, 
and  he  and  his  mate,  who  lacks  but  little  of  the  brilliancy  of  his 
colouring,  choose  some  suitable  place,  such  as  the  scrubby  second 
growth  of  a  clearing,  or  near  a  brook  where  the  underbrush  is 
thick,  and  there  they  remain  until  time  for  nest-building,  which 
begins  about  the  last  week  in  May.  During  this  period  and  for 
about  a  month  or  so  after,  the  sweet  note  of  the  male  bird  may 
be  heard  at  almost  any  time  of  day.  While  his  mate  is  perform- 
ing the  tedious  duty  of  incubating,  he  remains  near  by  and  sings 
at  frequent  intervals.  The  accompanying  photograph  was  taken 
in  South  Orange,  New  Jersey,  the  nest  being  placed  within  eigh- 
teen inches  of  the  ground,  in  an  azalea  plant. 

66O.    Bay-breasted  Warbler:  Dendroica  castanea 

(Wils.) 

Adult  $ — Upper  parts  ashy  gray  or  brownish,  streaked  with 
black  ;  crown  chestnut ;  forehead  and  cheeks  black  ;  two 
white  wing  bars  ;  tail  tipped  broadly  with  white.  Under 
parts,  throat,  breast,  and  sides  reddish  chestnut  ;  lower  part 
of  breast  and  belly  white. 

Adult  9  —  Less  brilliant  and  with  less  chestnut,  especially  on  the 
crown,  which  is  a  mixture  of  greenish  and  rufous.  Length 
—5.63. 

'59 


Nests  in  Trees,  Bushes,  or  Vines 

Breeding  Range — Northward  from  northern  New  England  and 
northern  Michigan. 

The  nest  is  placed  in  coniferous  or  other  evergreen  trees,  at 
a  height  of  from  five  to  as  much  as  twenty  feet  from  the  ground. 
It  is  a  compact  structure  of  fine  strips  of  bark,  twigs,  hair,  plant 
fibre,  and  downy  substance  gathered  from  plants.  The  eggs 
are  white,  with  fine  spots  of  reddish  brown  at  the  larger  end, 
sometimes  forming  a  wreath.  The  number  is  usually  4.  Size — 
.70  x.50. 

661.    Black-poll  Warbler:   Dendroica  striata  (Forst.) 

Adult  $  — Upper  parts  gray,  streaked  with  black  ;  nape  and 
cheeks  white  ;  crown  black  ;  under  parts  white,  shading 
into  gray  on  the  flanks  ;  throat  and  sides  of  breast  and  belly 
streaked  with  black. 

Adult  ?  — Upper  parts  dusky  olive  green,  streaked  with  black  ; 
under  parts  more  or  less  tinged  with  yellowish,  with  dusky 
streaks.  Length — 5.56. 

Breeding  Range — From  northern  New  England  and  the  Catskills 
northward.  (A.  O.  U.  check-list.) 

The  nest,  which  is  placed  in  coniferous  trees  (usually  spruce), 
at  a  height  of  about  six  or  eight  feet  from  the  ground,  is  com- 
posed of  fine  twigs,  roots,  weeds,  lichen,  and  moss,  lined  with 
grass  and  feathers.  4  or  5  eggs  are  laid  ;  they  are  white  or 
creamy  white,  spotted  and  blotched  chiefly  at  the  larger  end 
with  various  shades  of  reddish  brown  and  lilac.  Size — .72  x  .52. 
It  is  principally  in  the  regions  far  north  of  the  United  States  that 
these  hardy  little  birds  have  their  summer  homes,  and  there  in 
the  forests  of  fir  and  spruce  they  hide  their  nests. 

In  the  more  northern  parts  of  New  England  a  few  belated 
pairs  remain  during  the  summer,  building  their  nests  towards 
the  latter  part  of  June. 


662.    Blackburnian  Warbler:  Dendroica  blackburniae 
(Gmel.) 

Adult  $  — Upper  parts  streaked  black  and  white  ;  crown  bright 
orange,  surrounded  by  black  ;  bright-orange  line  from  bill 
over  eye  to  back  of  cheek  ;  under  parts,  throat,  and  breast 
bright  orange  ;  belly  yellowish  white,  streaked  with  black. 
1 60 


Nests  in  Trees,  Bushes,  or  Vines 

Adult^.  — Upper  parts  dull  olive  instead  of  black  ;  the  yellow  parts 

are  replaced  by  dull  orange.     Length — 5.25. 
Breeding  Range — From   southern    Maine,  eastern  Massachusetts, 

and  northern  New  York  northward  ;  also  along  the  Alle- 

ghanies  from  South  Carolina  northward. 

The  nest  is  described  as  being  compactly  made  of  spruce 
twigs,  fine  roots,  shreds  of  bark,  and  soft  plant  down  (especially 
cat-tail  down),  lined  with  hair,  grass,  tendrils,  and  sometimes 
feathers.  It  is  placed  in  coniferous  trees,  at  about  twenty  feet 
from  the  ground.  4  eggs  are  laid  ;  they  are  white,  tinged  with 
green  or  blue  and  spotted  or  faintly  blotched  with  various  shades 
of  brown  and  ashy  lilac.  Size — .69  x  .50. 

These  warblers,  the  most  brilliant-coloured  of  their  family, 
are  known  to  most  of  us  only  as  migrants,  reaching  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  New  York  about  the  middle  of  May,  on  their  way 
to  their  breeding  places  in  the  evergreen  forests  of  Maine  and 
northward. 

The  nests  are  completed  probably  about  the  end  of  May  or 
beginning  of  June. 

663.    Yellow-throated  Warbler:  Dendroica  dominica 
(Linn.) 

Adult — Upper  parts  gray  ;  darker  on  the  forehead  ;  over  the  eye 
there  is  a  white  line,  which  changes  to  yellow  between  the 
eye  and  bill  ;  sides  of  face  and  sides  of  throat  black,  back 
of  which  is  a  white  patch  ;  under  parts  yellow  to  white  on 
the  belly,  and  streaked  on  the  sides  with  black.  Length — 
5.25. 

Breeding  Range — Virginia  (casually  to  southern  New  England), 
southward. 

The  nest  is  placed  on  a  branch  of  a  pine  tree,  or  in  tufts  of 
hanging  moss,  at  a  height  of  eighteen  feet  and  upwards.  It  is 
composed  of  twigs,  bark,  and  Spanish  moss,  lined  with  plant- 
down,  and  sometimes  feathers. 

The  eggs,  numbering  from  4  to  5,  are  whitish,  with  spots 
of  brown  and  drab  evenly  distributed,  or  in  a  wreath  at  the  larger 
end.  Size — .74  x  .53. 

The  breeding  season  commences  towards  the  end  of  April 
or  early  in  May. 

ii  161 


Nests  in  Trees,  Bushes,  or  Vines 


663a.    Sycamore  Warbler:  D.  d.  albilora  Ridgw. 

Closely  resembling  the  preceding,  but  rather  smaller,  and 
without  yellow  in  front  of  the  eye. 

Breeding  Range — "The  Mississippi  Valley  north  to  Kansas,  south- 
ern Indiana,  and  southern  Illinois  ;  east  to  western  South 
Carolina"  (Chapman).  Davie  gives  the  range  as,  "North 
to  Lake  Erie  and  southern  Michigan,  and  east  to  western 
North  Carolina." 

The  nest  is  usually  placed  in  sycamore  trees.  "It  is  com- 
posed of  fine  shreds  of  vegetable  material  intermingled  with 
short,  slender  twigs  as  the  base." 

The  eggs  are  identical  in  markings  with  those  of  the  yellow- 
throated  warbler,  but  are  slightly  smaller  in  size. 


667.    Black-throated  Green  Warbler:    Dendroica  virens 
(Cm  el.) 

Adult  $  — Upper  parts  olive  green  ;  two  white  wing  bars,  bright 
yellow  cheeks,  and  line  over  eye  ;  under  parts,  throat, 
breast,  and  streaks  on  sides  of  flank  black  ;  belly  white, 
more  or  less  tinged  with  yellow. 

Adult  ? — Very  similar,  the  throat  having  yellow  mixed  with 
black.  Length — 5.10. 

Breeding  Range — The  higher  parts  of  the  Alleghanies  to  South 
Carolina,  and  northward  from  Connecticut  and  northern 
Illinois. 

The  nest  is  a  beautiful  compact  structure  of  small  twigs 
(usually  of  hemlock  or  spruce),  lichen,  moss,  grass,  wool,  and 
bark,  lined  with  plant  down,  hair,  grass,  and  feathers.  It  is 
generally  placed  in  a  coniferous  tree,  at  a  height  varying  from 
ten  or  fifteen  to  fifty  feet.  The  eggs,  3  or  4  in  number,  are  creamy 
white,  spotted,  specked,  and  rarely  blotched  with  orange  brown, 
chiefly  at  the  large  end.  Size — .64  x  .52. 

These  birds  during  the  breeding  season  inhabit  almost  ex- 
clusively the  dense  coniferous  or  mixed  forests,  where  in  June 
they  build  their  nests. 

162 


Nests  in  Trees,  Bushes,  or  Vines 


671.    Pine  Warbler:  Dendroica  vigorsii  (Aud.) 

Adult  $  — Upper  parts  olive  ;  under  parts  bright  yellow,  shading 

into  white  on  the  belly,  with  more  or  less  black  streaks  on 

the  sides. 
Adult  9  — Less  brilliant  ;  under  parts  more  grayish.     Length — 

5.52. 
Breeding  Range — Throughout   the   Eastern   States,    from    Florida 

northward  ;  almost  exclusively  confined  to  regions  where 

the  pitch  pines  are  abundant. 

The  nest  is  placed  towards  the  outward  end  of  a  branch  in 
evergreens,  usually  pines,  at  a  considerable  distance  from  the 
ground.  The  materials  used  in  its  construction  are  leaves,  strips 
of  bark,  weeds,  and  caterpillars'  or  spiders'  web,  with  the  lining 
of  hair  and  feathers.  3  to  4  and  sometimes  5  eggs  are  laid  ;  they 
are  white  or  dull  white,  with  specks  and  spots  of  various  shades 
of  brown  and  lilac  gray,  most  of  which  form  a  wreath  round  the 
larger  end.  Size — .68  x  .52.  See  Fig.  2,  Plate  D. 

TKe  breeding  season  begins  from  the  middle  of  March  to  the 
latter  part  of  May,  according  to  locality. 

673.    Prairie  Warbler:   Dendroica  discolor  (Vieill.) 

Adult  $ — Upper  parts  bright  olive  green,  more  or  less  spotted 
with  chestnut  ;  a  single  wing-bar  of  yellow  ;  above  and 
beneath  the  eye  yellow,  divided  and  bordered  by  black  ; 
under  parts  bright  yellow,  streaked  on  the  sides  with  black. 

Adult  ?  —  Very  similar  ;  the  chestnut  spotting  on  the  back  some- 
times lacking.  Length — 4.75. 

Breeding  Range — From  southern  New  England  southward. 

The  nest  is  composed  of  fine  grass,  plant  fibre,  and  down, 
and  lined  with  fine  roots  and  hair,  resembling  to  some  extent  the 
nest  of  the  yellow  warbler.  It  is  placed  near  the  ground,  in 
scrubby  bushes  or  saplings,  often  in  young  cedars.  3  to  5  eggs 
are  laid  ;  they  are  white,  with  a  few  brown  or  purplish  brown 
and  faint  lilac  spots  wreathed  round  the  larger  end.  Size — 
.66  x  .50.  See  Fig.  16,  Plate  B. 

The  breeding  season  commences  at  any  time  from  the  be- 
ginning of  May  to  the  first  or  second  week  in  June,  according  to 
locality. 

163 


Nests  in  Trees,  Bushes,  or  Vines 


679.    Mourning  Warbler:    Geothlypis  Philadelphia  (Wils.) 

Adult  $  — Upper  parts  rather  dark  olive  green  ;  head,  neck,  and 
throat  gray,  shading  into  black  on  the  breast  ;  belly,  lemon 
yellow. 

Adult  $  — Less  brilliant  ;  entire  upper  parts  greenish  olive  ; 
under  parts  gray,  lighter  on  the  throat  and  shading  into 
yellow  on  the  belly.  Length — 5.63. 

Breeding  Range — Northern  New  York  and  New  England  north- 
ward, and  in  the  mountainous  regions  of  Pennsylvania. 

The  nest  is  composed  of  strips  of  bark,  leaves,  and  grass, 
lined  with  fine  grass  and  hair.  It  is  placed  in  low  bushes,  ferns, 
or  weeds,  either  on  or  near  the  ground.  The  eggs,  4  in  number, 
are  whitish,  with  dots  and  spots  of  chestnut  or  reddish  brown, 
chiefly  at  the  larger  end.  Size — .71  x  .54. 

Mr.  Brewster  speaks  of  these  birds  breeding  in  positive 
abundance  on  Mount  Graylock,  in  western  Massachusetts,  but 
elsewhere  in  southern  New  England  known  only  as  a  rare  spring 
and  still  rarer  autumn  migrant. 

681.    Maryland  Yellow-throat:  Geothlypis  trichas  (Linn.) 

Eggs  white  with  fine  specks  and  spots  of  chocolate  brown, 
the  spots  not  very  numerous  and  mostly  at  the  larger  end. 

See  Page  69,  Chapter  II. 

68 Ib.    Florida  Yellow-throat:   G.  t.  ignota  Chapm. 
Eggs  similar  to  those  of  the  preceding  species. 
See  Page  70,  Chapter  II. 

683.    Yellow-breasted  Chat:  Icteria  virens  (Linn.) 

Adult — Upper  parts  olive  green  ;  white  line  from  the  bill  to  the 
eye  ;  white  ring  round  the  eye  ;  throat,  breast,  and  upper 
part  of  belly  bright  yellow  ;  lower  part  of  belly  white, 
shading  into  gray  at  the  sides.  Length — 7.44.  Young  birds 
are  brownish  gray,  lighter  on  the  breast,  the  yellow  showing 
when  they  attain  their  full  size. 

Breeding  Range — The  Eastern  States,  from  southern  New  England 
southward. 

164 


YELLOW-BREASTED   CHAT'S    NEST. 
Placed  in  a  wild  rose  bush. 


Nests  in  Trees,  Bushes,  or  Vines 

The  nest  is  large  and  compact,  built  of  leaves,  grass,  and 
thin  strips  of  bark,  with  the  lining  of  fine  grass.  It  is  placed  usu- 
ally within  four  or  five  feet  of  the  ground  in  the  crotch  of  a  small 
shrub,  and  occasionally  in  a  tangle  of  vines.  Number  of  eggs 
from  3  to  5 ;  they  are  white  or  pinkish  white,  rather  sparsely  and 
evenly  marked  with  reddish  brown  spots;  the  spots  are  rarely 
confined  to  the  larger  end.  Size — .92  x  .72.  See  Fig.  6,  Plate  D. 

A  chat's  nest  may  be  found  hidden  in  the  dense  undergrowth 
of  a  clearing,  in  swampy  places,  or  in  any  kind  of  open  thicket. 

It  seems  curious  that,  while  the  Chat  is  so  crafty  in  hiding 
himself  from  view,  he  manifests  but  little  skill  in  concealing  his 
nest.  By  any  one  who  does  not  object  to  penetrating  the  dense 
thickets  of  briers  and  undergrowth,  the  nest  may  be  easily  found, 
for  it  is  large  and  usually  but  poorly  concealed  by  leaves.  The 
builder  appears  to  rely  almost  entirely  on  the  natural  fence  of 
growing  barbed  wire  for  protection  from  human  enemies.  The 
bird  seems  to  glide  off  its  nest  without  being  seen  or  heard,  and 
makes  scarcely  any  commotion  if  the  nest  be  disturbed.  Young 
chats  may  be  reared  by  hand  and  become  fairly  tame,  but  un- 
fortunately they  show  too  great  an  independence  of  spirit,  and 
do  not  appear  particularly  desirous  of  human  companionship. 

During  the  breeding  season,  which  begins  about  the  middle 
of  May,  the  chats  may  be  heard  giving  voice  to  their  varied  notes, 
which  can  be  readily  imitated  and  will  immediately  attract  the 
inquisitive  bird.  The  song  is  frequently  performed  while  the 
bird  is  in  mid-air,  not  flying  in  an  orthodox  way,  but  flapping  its 
wings  in  a  most  extraordinary  manner,  presenting  more  the  ap- 
pearance of  a  large  moth  than  a  bird.  In  the  vicinity  of  New 
York  the  nesting  season  commences  about  the  second  week  in 
May. 

684.    Hooded  Warbler:  Sylvania  mitrata  (Gmel.) 

Adult  $ — Back,  wings,  and  tail  olive  green;  forehead  and  cheeks 
bright  yellow;  a  black  hood  on  head  and  neck,  extending  to 
the  throat  and  upper  part  of  breast ;  rest  of  under  parts 
yellow. 

Adult  ?  —Very  similar,  the  black  hood  being  less  defined. 
Length — 5.67. 

Breeding  Range — The  Eastern  States,  from  southern  Connecticut 
southward. 

165 


Nests  in  Trees,  Bushes,  or  Vines 

The  nest  is  placed  in  low  bushes  or  scrub  within  four  feet, 
and  sometimes  within  a  few  inches,  of  the  ground.  It  is  com- 
posed of  leaves,  shreds  of  bark,  and  scales  of  beech  buds  all  com- 
pactly woven  and  secured  together  with  spider  webs  ;  the  lining 
in  some  nests  is  entirely  of  horse  or  cattle  hair ;  others  are  found 
lined  with  fibres  of  grape-vine  bark.  3  to  5  eggs  are  laid ;  they 
are  white,  with  specks  and  spots  of  reddish  brown  and  lilac  often 
forming  an  irregular  wreath  at  the  larger  end.  Size — .71  x  .52. 

In  damp  woods,  where  the  undergrowth  is  fairly  dense, 
these  warblers  will  be  found  nesting  during  the  latter  part  of  May 
or  early  in  June. 


687.    American   Redstart:  Setophaga  ruticilla   (Linn.) 

Adult  $  —  Upper  parts  black  ;  patch  on  the  wing  and  basal  half 
of  tail  feathers  (except  those  in  the  middle)  yellowish  red  ; 
under  parts,  throat  and  upper  part  of  breast  black;  sides 
bright  orange  red  ;  belly  white. 

Adult  $  —  Upper  parts  greenish  gray  ;  under  parts  white  ;  instead 
of  orange  yellow  on  the  sides,  wing,  and  tail,  the  female  has 
light  yellow.  Length — 5.41.  See  Fig.  6,  Plate  B. 

Breeding  Range — Throughout  the  Eastern  States,  from  North  Caro- 
lina northward. 

The  nest  is  placed  either  in  a  crotch  or  on  a  branch  against 
the  tree  trunk,  at  a  height  of  from  five  to  thirty  feet  from  the 
ground.  It  is  a  beautiful,  neat,  cup-shaped  nest,  about  two  inches 
inside  diameter,  and  one  inch  deep.  The  materials  used  in  its 
construction  are  fine  dried  grass,  a  silver-coloured  vegetable  fibre, 
plant  down,  and  thin  strips  of  bark,  with  a  lining  of  fine  grass 
and  hair.  3  or  4  and  sometimes  5  eggs  are  laid;  they  are  white 
or  whitish,  with  spots  and  small  blotches  of  reddish  brown  and 
lilac  chiefly  at  the  larger  end.  Size — .66  x  .51. 

In  the  damp  woodland  these  beautiful  warblers  may  be  seen 
darting  through  the  rich  mass  of  green  foliage  like  tiny  flashes  of 
fire.  The  rare  combination  of  black  and  flame  colour,  together 
with  their  habit  of  constantly  spreading  their  tail,  renders  them 
easy  of  identification.  They  are  seldom  seen  on  the  ground 
except  when  in  search  of  food  for  their  young.  The  breeding 
season  begins  towards  the  end  of  May. 

1 66 


NEST    AND    EGGS   OF   CATBIRD    IN    TANGLE    OF    VINES,  THREE    FEET    FROM    GROUND 


Nests  in  Trees,  Bushes,  or  Vines 

7O3.    Mocking-bird  :  Mimus  polyglottos  (Linn.) 

Adult—  Upper  parts  bluish  or  ashy  gray  ;  under  parts  buffy  or 

grayish  white. 

Immature    birds   have  the    breast  and    sides    spotted. 

Length — 10.50. 
Breeding  Range — From  southern  Illinois  and  New  Jersey  (rarely 

Massachusetts)  southward. 

The  nest  is  built  of  twigs,  strips  of  bark,  fine  roots,  weeds, 
and  sometimes  rags;  the  lining  is  of  feathers,  hair,  and  fine  roots. 
It  is  placed  either  in  a  tangle  of  undergrowth  or  in  trees  such  as 
the  orange,  cedar,  water  oak,  etc.  The  eggs  are  pale  green  or 
buffy  gray,  with  spots  and  blotches  of  reddish  or  yellowish 
brown.  Size — .95  x  .70.  See  Fig.  18,  Plate  D. 

So  well  known  is  the  Mocking-bird  as  a  songster  that  but 
little  need  be  said  of  it  here.  The  young  are  easily  reared,  but 
my  experience  leads  me  to  believe  that  they  are  not  easily  tamed  ; 
those  that  I  have  had  were  nervous  and  rather  wild,  and  never 
cared  to  be  handled  even  when  quite  young.  I  am  rather  sur- 
prised to  see  that  certain  writers  speak  of  the  immature  mock- 
ing-bird as  being  similar  to  the  adults.  All  those  that  I  have 
reared  have  kept  the  spots  on  the  breast  until  almost  four  months 
old.  The  breeding  season  begins  early  in  May,  and  several 
broods  are  reared. 

7O4.    Catbird  :  Galeoscoptes  carolinensis  (Linn.) 

Adult—  Upper  parts  dark  slaty  gray  ;  crown  and  tail  dull  black  ; 

under  parts  slaty  gray  ;  under  tail  coverts  bright  chestnut. 

Length — 8.95. 
Breeding  Range — Throughout  the  Eastern  States. 

The  nest  is  ragged  but  well  made  of  sticks,  leaves,  fine  roots, 
weeds,  grass,  strips  of  bark,  and  lined  chiefly  with  fine  roots. 
It  is  placed  in  briers  or  low  bushes,  usually  not  more  than  about 
seven  feet  from  the  ground.  The  eggs,  3  to  5  in  number,  are 
rather  dark  greenish  blue.  Size — .95  x  .70.  See  Fig.  9,  Plate  D. 

These  well-named  and  well-known  birds  rank  high  in  the 
list  of  our  songsters  ;  their  song,  which,  though  small  in  volume, 
is  full  of  sweetness,  may  be  heard  at  almost  any  time  of  day 

167 


Nests  in  Trees,  Bushes,  or  Vines 

and  in  almost  any  thicket.  When  the  nest  is  threatened,  the 
owners  call  together  all  the  other  catbirds  in  that  particular 
thicket,  and  each  one  tries  to  outdo  the  other  in  vocal  remon- 
strance. 

Knowing  them  to  be  highly  intelligent,  I  decided  to  rear  one, 
thinking,  of  course,  that  he  would  make  a  delightful  pet,  but  I 
never  succeeded  in  determining  whether  the  bird  was  extremely 
clever  or  entirely  lacking  in  sense  of  any  sort.  His  behaviour 
from  the  very  beginning  was  a  cause  of  surprise  ;  not  a  sound 
did  he  utter,  even  when  hungry,  and  that  was  most  unusual,  as 
young  birds  are  not  renowned  for  their  quietness.  Then  he  was 
very  late  in  learning  to  feed  himself,  far  later  than  any  of  my 
other  birds.  But  his  most  peculiar  conduct  was  when  he  was 
taken  out  of  his  cage  to  fly  about  in  the  large  wire  enclosure ; 
instead  of  taking  advantage  of  this  freedom,  he  instantly  flew  to 
the  topmost  part,  and  there  sat  by  the  hour  immovable,  looking 
much  like  an  awkwardly  mounted  bird.  During  the  two  months 
I  had  him  there  was  no  change  in  his  behaviour,  and  seeing  noth- 
ing to  be  gained  by  keeping  so  uninteresting  a  pet,  I  set  him 
free  ;  immediately  his  whole  manner  changed,  and  he  resembled 
a  real  live  catbird.  With  tail  erect  in  proper  catbird  fashion,  he 
commenced  searching  for  insects,  which  previously  he  had  never 
even  noticed,  so  I  decided  after  all  that  he  was  exceeding  clever. 

The  breeding  season  commences  about  the  middle  of  May, 
and  two  broods  are  frequently  reared. 


7O5.    Brown  Thrasher:   Harporhynchus  rufus  (Linn.) 

Eggs  usually  greenish  with   numerous  small  light  brown 
spots. 

See  Page  50,  Chapter  I. 

751.    Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher:   Polioptila  caerulea  (Linn.) 

Eggs   white  tinged  with  green  or  blue  and  spotted  with 
various  shades  of  brown. 

See  Page  174,  Chapter  IX. 
1 68 


NEST   OF    WOOD   THRUSH,  WITH    PIECES   OF    NEWSPAPER    USED    IN    CONSTRUCTION 


Nests  in  Trees,  Bushes,  or  Vines 


755.    Wood  Thrush:  Turdus  mustelinus  Gmel. 

Adult—  Upper  parts  reddish  brown  or  cinnamon,  rump  and  tail 
less  brilliant;  under  parts  white  tinged  slightly  with  buff  on 
the  breast,  and  heavily  marked  with  round  black  spots. 
Length — 8.30. 

Breeding  Range— Throughout  the  Eastern  States,  northward  from 
Virginia  and  Kentucky,  rare  north  of  Massachusetts. 

The  nest  is  bulky,  somewhat  deeper  than  the  robin's,  which 
it  otherwise  resembles.  It  is  made  of  dead  leaves  (usually  beech 
leaves),  used  chiefly  as  the  foundation,  weed  stems,  roots,  mud, 
paper,  rags,  and  sometimes  snake-skin.  It  is  placed  either  in  a 
crotch  or  on  a  horizontal  branch,  usually  within  ten  feet  of  the 
ground.  3  to  4,  rarely  5,  eggs  are  laid  ;  they  are  greenish  blue, 
lighter  and  less  green  than  those  of  the  catbird.  Size — 1.05  x 
.70.  See  Fig.  n,  Plate  D. 

Either  in  the  woods,  or  in  the  shrubbery  near  the  house,  the 
Wood  Thrush  builds  his  nest,  damp  or  dry  places  being  indis- 
criminately chosen.  During  the  period  of  incubation,  which 
occupies  twelve  days,  the  parent  bird  sits  closely  and  will  allow 
the  onlooker  to  approch  within  a  few  feet  of  the  nest.  The  ac- 
companying illustration  was  taken  in  the  dark  woods  and  an 
exposure  of  four  seconds  was  made.  So  closely  did  the  bird  sit 
that  I  was  able  to  secure  three  photographs,  changing  the  plates 
and  setting  the  shutter  each  time  without  disturbing  the  confid- 
ing mother,  though  the  lens  was  not  more  than  four  feet  from 
her  nest.  The  young,  which  leave  the  nest  when  ten  days  old, 
are  intensely  nervous  little  fellows,  and  are  difficult  to  photo- 
graph. 

In  the  neighbourhood  of  New  York  the  breeding  season 
begins  rather  before  the  middle  of  May.  Occasionally  two 
broods  are  reared. 


756.    Wilson's  Thrush  ;  Veery  :  Turdus  fuscescens 
Steph. 


Eggs  bluish  green. 


See  Page  71,  Chapter  II. 
169 


Nests  in  Trees,  Bushes,  or  Vines 

757a.    Bicknell's  Thrush :  Turdus  aliciae  bicknelli  (Ridgw.) 

Adult — Upper  parts  rich  olive  ;  under  parts  white,  slightly  tinged 
on  the  breast  with  buff,  shading  into  gray  on  the  sides  ; 
throat,  breast,  and  sides  spotted  with  dark  brown  ;  ring 
round  the  eye  dull  white.  Length — 6.25  to  7.25. 

Breeding  Range — The  mountainous  regions  of  the  Northeastern 
States. 

The  nest  is  placed  in  bushes  or  low  trees,  not  far  from  the 
ground,  usually  in  damp  woods.  It  is  composed  of  leaves,  grass, 
moss,  sticks,  strips  of  bark,  and  lined  with  grass.  The  eggs  are 
bluish  green  (darker  than  those  of  the  olive-backed  thrush),  finely 
spotted  with  reddish  brown.  Size — .87  x  .63. 

This  bird  resembles  closely  the  gray-cheeked  thrush;  it  is 
somewhat  smaller  and  brighter  in  colour. 

758a.    Olive-backed  or  Swainson's  Thrush :  Turdus 
ustulatus  swainsonii  (Cab.) 

Adult — Upper  parts  dusky  olive  ;  under  parts,  breast,  and  throat 
buff ;  belly  white  ;  sides  gray  with  blackish  spots  except  on 
the  belly  ;  eye  ring  and  lores  buff.  Length — 7. 17. 

Breeding  Range — In  the  higher  mountains  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
from  northern  New  England  northward.  Mr.  Brewster 
speaks  of  it  breeding  commonly  on  Mount  Graylock  in 
western  Massachusetts. 

The  nest  is  placed  in  a  bush  or  tree  within  ten  feet  of  the 
ground.  It  is  made  of  leaves,  grass,  twigs,  moss,  and  fine  roots, 
and  is  rather  bulky.  The  eggs,  3  to  4  in  number,  are  pale  bluish 
green  with  specks  or  spots  of  light  reddish  brown  and  dull  lilac. 
Size— .93  x  .68. 

The  Olive-backed  Thrush  is  an  inhabitant  of  the  secluded 
woods,  and  during  the  breeding  season,  which  commences  about 
the  middle  of  June,  they  live  almost  exclusively  in  the  regions 
where  coniferous  trees  abound. 


761.    American  Robin:  Merula  migratoria  (Linn.) 

Adult  $  —  Head  black  with  white  eye  ring  ;  back  slate  colour  ;  tail 
black  with  white  tips  at  the  encls  of  the  outer  feathers  ;  throat 
170 


Nests  in  Trees,  Bushes,  or  Vines 

nearly  white,  spotted  and    streaked  with  very  dark  slate 
colour ;  breast  and  sides  chestnut ;  belly  white. 

Adult  ?  —  Less  decided  in  colour,  the  head  being  dark  slate  colour. 
Length — 10.00. 

Breeding  Range — Throughout  the  Eastern  States,  from  Virginia  and 
Kansas  northward. 


The  nest,  which  is  very  bulky  and  sometimes  rough  in  appear- 
ance, is  formed  of  leaves,  roots,  and  grasses  (sometimes  entirely 
of  grass  and  mud),  plastered  together  with  an  inner  wall  of  mud, 
lined  with  fine  grass.  It  is  placed  either  on  a  branch  or  in  a 
crotch  at  from  four  to  thirty-five  feet  from  the  ground.  The  eggs 
are  of  a  beautiful  pale  greenish  blue,  giving  the  name  to  the  colour 
known  as  "robin's  egg  blue."  Number  of  eggs,  from  3  to  5. 
Size — 1.15  x  .80.  See  Fig.  10,  Plate  D. 

During  the  breeding  season  the  robins  are  probably  the  best 
known  of  our  Eastern  birds,  as  they  build  their  nests  quite  fre- 
quently in  the  vines  that  grow  on  our  verandas,  and  in  the  shrubs 
around  the  house.  They  do  not  then  appear  to  fear  man,  and 
will  perform  their  various  domestic  duties  within  a  few  feet  of  the 
onlooker.  It  is  always  interesting  to  watch  the  parent  birds  feed- 
ing their  ever-hungry  young;  from  early  morn  till  nearly  dark 
they  keep  up  an  almost  incessant  search  for  worms,  which  form 
the  principal  diet  of  the  young.  Owing  to  the  size  and  to  its 
being  generally  placed  in  a  conspicuous  situation,  the  robin's  nest 
is  by  no  means  difficult  to  find.  They  usually  build  near  cultiva- 
tion, probably  because  they  find  it  easier  to  obtain  their  supply 
of  worms.  The  nest  may  be  found  in  almost  any  sort  of  tree 
along  the  roadside,  or  on  the  outskirts  of  a  wood.  An  apple 
orchard  is  an  almost  sure  place,  especially  so  if  the  trees  be  old. 

The  young  leave  the  nest  when  about  eleven  days  old.  If 
taken  even  before  they  can  fly,  they  are  remarkably  wild.  In 
trying  to  photograph  them  I  have  experienced  the  utmost  dif- 
ficulty, as  it  is  almost  impossible  to  induce  them  to  remain  on  a 
branch,  or,  in  fact,  in  any  place  one  may  select.  I  know  of  no 
young  birds  that  are  so  difficult  to  tame,  except,  perhaps,  the  vari- 
ous other  varieties  of  thrushes.  They  appear  to  be  delicate  and 
are  not  easily  reared. 

The  nesting  season  begins  about  the  middle  of  April,  and 
continues  until  well  into  July. 

171 


Chapter  IX 
NESTS  SADDLED  ON  BRANCHES 

428.    Ruby-throated  Humming-bird:  Trochilus  colubris 
Linn. 

Adults — Upper  parts  metallic  green,  wings  and  tail  brownish  ; 
under  parts,  throat  metallic  red  or  deep  orange  red,  breast 
and  belly  light  gray  shading  into  gray  on  the  sides. 

Adult  % — Lacks  the  ruby  throat.     Length — 3.74. 

Breeding  Range — Throughout  the  Eastern  States. 

The  nest  is,  as  Minot  says,  a  perfect  type  of  bird  architecture. 
It  is  composed  of  woolly  vegetable  substance  and  other  soft  ma- 
terial, covered  on  the  outside  with  small  pieces  of  lichen,  fastened 
on  with  spiders'  or  caterpillars'  web  or  plant  fibres.  The  nest  is 
about  three-quarters  of  an  inch  inside  diameter,  and  usually  rather 
more  than  half  an  inch  deep  (inside).  It  is  saddled  on  the  branch 
of  a  tree  at  from  ten  to  fifty  feet  from  the  ground.  There  are 
instances  on  record  of  the  nests  having  been  found  attached  to 
tree  trunks  and  on  tall  weeds.  2  white  eggs  are  laid.  Size — 
.50  x  .30. 

Of  about  four  hundred  species  of  humming-birds  known  to 
ornithology  the  Ruby-throat  is  the  only  variety  found  east  of  the 
Mississippi. 

About  the  first  week  in  May  they  arrive  in  the  vicinity  of 
New  York,  and  begin  nesting  about  three  weeks  later.  The 
young  remain  in  the  nest  for  some  three  weeks. 

459.    Olive-sided  Flycatcher:   Contopus  borealis 
(Swains.) 

Adult—  Upper  parts  olive  brown  ;   under  parts,  throat,  belly,  a 
line  down  the  middle  of  the  breast,  and  the  flanks  white, 
more  or  less  tinged  with  lemon  yellow  ;  rest  of  under  parts 
olive  brown.     Length — 7.40. 
172 


NEST    AND    EGGS   OF    RUBY-THROATED    HUMMING-BIRD 


Nests  Saddled  on  Branches 

Breeding  Range — From  Pennsylvania,  northern  New  Jersey,   and 
Massachusetts  northward. 

The  nest  is  of  twigs,  thin  strips  of  bark,  weed  stalk,  and 
lined  with  grass  and  moss.  It  is  rather  shallow,  and  is  placed 
usually  on  a  branch  of  an  evergreen  tree  at  some  distance  from 
the  trunk,  at  a  considerable  height  from  the  ground.  The  eggs, 
numbering  from  3  to  4,  and  rarely  5,  are  creamy  white,  spotted, 
chiefly  at  the  larger  end,  with  reddish  brown  and  dull  lilac. 
Size— .82  x  .62. 

The  breeding  season  commences  late  in  May  or  early  in  June, 
according  to  locality. 

461.    Wood  Pewee:  Contopus  virens  (Linn.) 

Adult — Upper  parts  dark  olive  brown,  more  or  less  tinged  with 
dull  green  ;  wings  dull  brown  with  two  white  bars  ;  under 
parts  pale  gray,  slightly  tinged  with  yellow.  Length— 6.50. 

Breeding  Range — Throughout  the  Eastern  States. 

The  nest  is  a  compact  structure,  with  a  thin  floor  and  fairly 
thick  low  sides.  It  is  composed  of  fine  grass,  moss,  and  strips 
of  bark,  with  a  coating  of  lichen  fastened  on  the  outside  with  fine 
webs,  and  is  saddled  on  a  branch  or  sometimes  placed  in  a  fork 
at  from  ten  to  fifty  feet  from  the  ground.  Usually  a  large  tree  is 
chosen,  and  the  nest  is  often  placed  near  the  extremity  of  a 
branch.  3  to  4  eggs  are  laid  ;  they  are  white  or  pale  buff,  with 
spots  of  various  shades  of  brown  and  lilac  forming  a  wreath 
about  the  larger  end.  Size — .70  x  .54.  See  Fig.  i,  Plate  D. 

These  little  flycatchers,  who  hide  their  nests  so  carefully  on 
the  branch  of  a  tree,  are  found  chiefly  in  the  woods.  Their  pe- 
culiarly plaintive  note  sounds  as  though  they  were  always 
brooding  over  some  great  sorrow,  and  yet  there  is  no  reason  for 
supposing  them  less  happy  than  others  of  the  feathered  tribes. 
Next  to  the  phoebe,  they  are  probably  the  tamest  of  the  fly- 
catchers. I  have  known  one  to  build  her  nest  within  three  feet 
of  a  window  near  which  people  frequently  sat  during  many 
hours  of  the  day,  but  she  never  seemed  to  object  to  the  close 
scrutiny  to  which  she  was  frequently  subjected. 

The  breeding  season  begins  from  the  latter  part  of  May  to 
the  middle  of  June,  according  to  locality. 

i73 


Nests  Saddled  on  Branches 

467.    Least  Flycatcher:  Empidonax  minimus  BaSrd 

Adult — Upper  parts  olive  ;  under  parts  pale  gray,  slightly  tinged 

with  yellow  on  the  belly.     Length — 5.40. 
Breeding  Range — From  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey  northward. 

The  nest,  which  is  either  saddled  on  a  branch  or  placed  in  a 
crotch  at  from  seven  to  twenty-five  feet  from  the  ground,  is  a 
neat  structure  of  soft  plant  fibre,  fine  grass,  thin  strips  of  bark, 
and  hair  ;  some  nests  are  built  entirely  of  grass  and  strips  of  bark, 
with  no  soft  materials.  The  eggs,  which  number  from  3  to  4, 
and  very  rarely  5,  are  buffer  white.  Size — .62  x  .50. 

These,  the  smallest  of  our  flycatchers,  are  found  in  abundance 
throughout  their  range,  though  their  distribution  is  somewhat 
local.  Apple  orchards  seem  to  be  their  favourite  nesting  places. 
I  have  found  no  less  than  four  of  these  nests  in  one  small  orchard 
containing  not  more  than  thirty  trees. 

The  breeding  season  begins  in  central  New  Jersey  about  the 
second  week  in  May. 

751.    Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher:  Polioptila  coerulea  (Linn.) 

Adult  $  — Upper  parts  bluish  gray,  a  black  band  on  the  forehead  ; 
tail,  middle  feathers  black,  outer  one  white,  the  interme- 
diate feathers  shading  from  dark  to  light  gray. 

Adult  $  —  Lacks  the  black  on  the  forehead,  but  is  otherwise 
similar.  Length — 4.50. 

Breeding  Range — From  the  Southern  States  northward,  on  the 
coast,  to  Connecticut;  of  accidental  occurrence  in  Maine,  and 
inland  to  the  Great  Lakes. 

The  nest  is  a  delicately  built  cup-like  structure,  about  one 
and  a  half  inches  deep  inside,  and  is  composed  of  leaf  stems, 
plant  fibre,  hair,  grass,  and  thin  strips  of  bark.  The  lining  is  of 
woolly  plant  substances,  and  the  outside  is  usually  decorated 
with  small  pieces  of  lichen.  It  is  placed  either  in  a  crotch  or 
saddled  on  a  branch  at  from  ten  to  fifty  feet  from  the  ground  ; 
fifteen  or  twenty  feet  is  the  usual  height  The  eggs,  4  or  5  in 
number,  are  very  pale  green  or  blue,  with  numerous  specks  and 
spots  of  chestnut  and  brown.  Size — .57  x  .45. 

The  Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher  is  an  energetic,  busy  little  fel- 
low who  lives  in  the  woods,  usually  preferring  those  that  are 
somewhat  damp.  He  commences  building  during  the  month 


NEST    OF    LEAST    FLYCATCHER. 
Saddled  on  branch  of  an  app'e  tree. 


Nests  Saddled  on  Branches 

of  May,  and  his  dainty  nest,  which  viewed  from  below  resembles 
a  knotty  excrescence,  is  difficult  to  find. 

761.    American  Robin:  Merula  migratoria  (Linn.) 

Eggs  greenish  blue. 

See  Page  170,  Chapter  VIII. 


495.    Cowbird  :  Molothrus  ater  (Bodd.) 

Adult  $  —  Lustrous  black  with  metallic  sheen  ;  head,  neck,  and 

upper  part  of  breast  snuff  colour. 

Adult  $  —  Dull  brown,  lightest  on  the  throat.     Length — 7.90. 
Breeding  Range — Throughout  the  Eastern  States  ;  rare  in  the  higher 

parts  of  Massachusetts. 

The  eggs,  which  are  invariably  laid  in  the  nests  of  other 
birds,  are  dull  white,  sprinkled  more  or  less  thickly  with  small 
brown  and  faint  lilac  spots.  Number  undetermined.  Size — 
.85  x  .65.  See  Fig.  19,  Plate  D. 

The  Cowbird  (named  from  the  habit  of  perching  on  cattle) 
has,  I  fear,  earned  a  bad  reputation  for  herself,  through  the  habit 
of  laying  her  eggs  in  the  nests  of  other  birds.  Why  she  does  so 
is  not  known,  but  we  can  be  certain  there  is  some  good  reason 
for  an  act  which  seems  entirely  contrary  to  nature.  The  nest  of 
almost  any  of  the  smaller  birds  is  chosen,  such  as  that  of  the 
yellow  warbler,  worm-eating  warbler,  blue-winged  warbler, 
bluebird,  and  any  of  the  sparrows  or  vireos.  Minot  thought  that 
the  eggs  were  not  laid  in  the  nest,  but  outside,  and  then  carried 
to  it.  I  have,  however,  seen  the  cowbird  on  the  nest,  and  have 
every  reason  to  believe  she  had  laid  her  egg  there. 

Eggs  are  laid  from  about  the  middle  of  May. 


Ilk  happy  bird,  wee  helpless  thing, 
That  in  the  weary  months  o'  spring 
Delighted  me  to  hear  thee  sing, 

What's  come  o'  thee  ? 
Whare  wilt  thou  cower  thy  chittering  wing 

And  close  thy  e'e? 

— BURNS. 

175 


INDEX   TO    COMMON    NAMES 


B 

EC     \%  fid£0-43I  tJW  UUCtl 

132- 

BiacfcbinL  Cam.  M»J- 

:-    -    -  -  _    -  • 

Rerf-'wtttTeii,  77. 
Btoebmf,  112. 
Bobofmfc,  41. 
Bod-white,  33. 

Florida,  3& 
BaH-foa£,  3<5L 
Banting.  BaT-wingwL  42. 

BLack-tirroatetL  50. 

InidigT?,  130-. 

Farmed,  151. 
Botcfcer-fatni,  153. 
Buzzard,  TorkcT,  57. 


125. 


Canary  (wtLdX  155. 
Coxacaxa,  Ato&ibott' 
Canifnaly  147. 

Flocitfa,  US- 
Catbird,  167. 
Cetfor-bmi.  152. 
Chat,  Ycflov-breasted,  164. 
Cfctfbec,  see  Least  FtycitiL&er.  1 
Cfeemr-fctni,  see  Getiir-fcrrd,  15 


Chicadee,  iii. 

CanjJfna.  112. 

HiniaDcubiEL,  112. 
Ctrppy.  145. 


Oipe,  see  Flakier,  104. 

Cowbtni,  175. 

Creeper.  Biacfc  aojoif  \VMCe,  65. 

Brown,  ioS. 
Crossbill,  Americaix  ffg, 

Red.  142- 

Whftfr-wtngwi,  143. 
CCOTT.  . 


Florida,  iji. 

Cockoov  Bfcack-btQed.  155. 

134. 


YdHov-ldBed.  155, 


:-• 

--   - 
3. 

133- 


-.  :    r          ::• 


Lurk,  47- 


Vesper  Spanom.  42. 


Flkkmr, 
Fknda 


T&. 


114, 
Ahfrr,  IJT- 
--- 

-.--•:     :    : 
GreraHoresCedL  114. 

"::-:        -rr-.-.-:      I     •= 

Least,  174. 

172. 

iSeir  FBjcafcker. 


ITT 


Index  to  Common  Names 


Grouse,  Canada,  52. 

Canadian  Ruffed,  54. 
Ruffed,  53. 

H 

Harrier,  Marsh,  37. 

Hawk,  American  Sparrow,  g6. 

Broad-winged,  127. 

Cooper's,  124. 

Duck,  81. 

Fish,  129. 

Florida  Red-shouldered,  126. 

Harlan's,  125. 

Marsh,  37. 

Meat,  see  Canada  Jay,  139. 

Pigeon,  82. 

Red-shouldered,  126. 

Red-tailed,  125. 

Sharp-shinned,  123. 

Short-tailed,  127. 

Snail,  77- 

Sparrow,  96. 

Swainson's,  126. 
Heath  Hen,  54. 
Hen,  Heath,  54. 

Prairie,  36. 

High-hole,  see  Flicker,  104. 
Humming-bird,  Ruby- throated,  172. 


Indigo-bird,  150. 


J 

;ack,  Whiskey,  139. 
ay,  Blue,  138. 
Canada,  139. 
Florida,  139 
Florida  Blue,  138. 
Scrub,  139. 

force,  64. 
unco,  61. 

Carolina,  61. 
Slate-coloured,  61. 


Kingbird,  136. 

Gray,  137. 

Kingfisher,  Belted,  83. 
Kinglet,  Golden-crowned,  120. 

Ruby-crowned,  121. 
Kite,  Everglade,  77. 

Mississippi,  123. 

Swallow-tailed,  122. 

White-tailed,  122. 


Lark,  Field,  see  Meadowlark,  73. 

Meadow,  73. 

Prairie  Horned,  40. 
Loggerhead  Shrike,  153. 

M 

Marsh  Wren,  Long-billed,  79. 

Marian's,  80. 

Short-billed,  79. 

Worthington's,  80. 
Martin,  Cuban,  88. 

Purple,  87. 

Maryland  Yellow-throat,  69. 
Meadowlark,  73. 
Meathawk,  139. 
Mockingbird,  167. 
Moosebird,  139. 

N 

Night-hawk,  39. 

Florida,  40. 
Nuthatch,  Brown-headed,  no. 

Florida  White-breasted,  109. 

Red-breasted,  109. 

White-breasted,  109. 

O 

Oriole,  Baltimore,  115. 

Orchard,  115. 
Osprey,  American,  129. 
Oven-bird,  75. 
Owl,  Acadian,  98. 

American  Barn,  82. 

American  Long-eared,  129. 

Barn,  82. 

Barred,  97. 

Florida  Barred,  98. 

Florida  Burrowing,  83. 

Florida  Screech,  99. 

Great  Horned,  130. 

Long-eared,  129. 

Monkey-faced,  see  Barn  Owl,  82. 

Saw-whet,  98. 

Screech,  98. 

Short-eared,  38. 


Palmetto  Bird,  70. 
Paroquet,  Carolina,  134. 
Partridge,  53. 

Spruce,  52. 
Peabody-bird,  60. 
Pewee,  Wood,  173. 
Phoebe,  85. 
Pigeon,  Passenger,  132. 

White-crowned,  132. 

Wild,  132. 
Prairie  Hen,  36. 


I78 


Index  to  Common  Names 


Quail,  35. 

Florida,  36. 


Raven,  Northern,  86. 
Redbird,  151. 

Summer,  152. 
Redstart,  American,  166. 
Redwing,  Florida,  78. 
Reedbird,  see  Bobolink,  41. 
Ricebird,  see  Bobolink,  41. 
Robin,  American,  170. 

Ground,  see  Cheewink,  64. 


Sapsucker,  Yellow-bellied,  103. 
Shrike,  Loggerhead,  153. 
Siskin,  Pine,  144. 
Snowbird,  61. 

Carolina,  61. 
Sparrow,  Bachman's,  74. 

Chipping,  145. 

Clay-coloured,  146. 

English,  87. 

Field,  48. 

Grasshopper,  44. 

Henslow's,  44. 

Lark,  47. 

Lincoln's,  62. 

Pine-woods,  62. 

Savanna,  43. 

Scott's  Seaside,  46. 

Seaside,  46. 

Sharp-tailed,  45. 

Song,  49. 

Swamp,  63. 

Vesper,  42. 

White-throated,  60. 

Yellow-winged,  44. 
Swallow,  Bank,  90. 

Barn,  89. 

Chimney,  84. 

Cliff,  88. 

Eave,  88. 

Rough-winged,  90. 

Tree,  89. 

White-bellied,  89. 
Swift,  Chimney,  84. 


Tanager,  Scarlet,  151. 

Summer,  152. 

Thistle-bird,  see  Goldfinch,  143. 
Thrasher,  Brown,  50. 


Thrush,  Bicknell's,  170. 

Brown,  see  Brown  Thrasher,  50. 

Golden-crowned,  75. 

Grinnell's  Water,  91. 

Hermit,  72. 

Large-billed  Water,  92. 

Louisiana  Water,  92. 

Olive-backed,  170. 

Swainson's,  170. 

Water,  91. 

Wilson's,  71. 

Wood,  169. 
Titmouse,  Tufted,  no. 
Towhee,  64. 

White-eyed,  64. 
Turkey  Buzzard,  57. 
Turkey,  Florida  Wild,  55. 

Wild,  55. 


Veery,  71. 

o,  Black-whiskered,  116. 

Blue-headed,  118. 

Key  West,  120. 

Mountain  Solitary,  119. 

Philadelphia,  117. 

Red -eyed,  117. 

Solitary,  118. 

Warbling,  118. 

White-eyed,  119. 

Yellow-throated,  118. 
Vulture,  Black,  58. 

Turkey,  57. 

W 

Warbler,  Bachman's,  154. 
Bay-breasted,  159. 
Black  and  White,  65. 
Black  and  Yellow,  157. 
Blackburnian,  160. 
Blackpoll,  160. 
Black-throated  Blue,  156. 
Black-throated  Green,  162. 
Blue-winged,  66. 
Blue  Yellow-backed,  1 20. 
Brewster's,  68. 
Canadian,  92. 
Cerulean,  158. 
Chestnut-sided,  159. 
Golden-winged,  67. 
Hooded,  165. 
Kentucky,  69. 
Lawrence's,  68. 
Magnolia,  157. 
Mourning,  164. 
Myrtle,  157. 
Nashville,  68. 

179 


Index  to  Common  Names 


Warbler,  Parula,  120. 

Pine,  163. 

Prairie,  163. 

Prothonotary,  107. 

Summer,  155. 

Swainson's,  154. 

Sycamore,  162. 

Tennessee,  155. 

Worm-eating,  65. 

Yellow,  155. 

Yellow-rumped,  157. 

Yellow-throated,  161. 
Water-thrush,  91. 

Grinnell's,  91. 

Large-billed,  92. 

Louisiana,  92. 
Waxwing,  Cedar,  152. 
Whip-poor-will,  59. 
Whiskey  Jack,  139. 
Woodpecker,  American  Three-toed,  102. 

Arctic  Three-toed,  102. 

Banded  Three-toed,  102. 

Downy,  101. 

Golden-winged,  104. 


Woodpecker,  Hairy,  100. 

Ivory-billed,  100. 

Pileated,  103. 

Red-bellied,  104. 

Red-cockaded,  101. 

Red-headed,  103. 

Southern  Downy,  101. 

Southern  Hairy,  101. 
Wren,  Bewick's,  93. 

Carolina,  93. 

Florida,  93. 

House,  94. 

Long-billed  Marsh,  79. 

Marian's  Marsh,  80. 

Short-billed  Marsh,  79. 

Winter,  94. 

Worthington's,  80. 


Yellow-bird,  143-155. 
Yellow-hammer,  see  Flicker,  104. 
Yellow-throat,  Florida,  70. 
Maryland,  69. 


180 


INDEX  TO  SCIENTIFIC  NAMES 


Accipiter  atricapillus,  124. 

cooperii,  124. 

velox,  123. 
Agelaius  phoeniceus,  77. 

phceniceus  bryanti,  78. 
Ammodramus  caudacutus,  45. 

henslowii,  44. 

maritimus,  46. 

maritimus  peninsulas,  46. 

sandwichensis  savanna,  43. 

savannarum  passerinus,  44. 
Ampelis  cedrorum,  152. 
Antrostomus  carolinensis,  59. 

vociferus,  59. 

Aphelocoma  floridana,  139. 
Aquila  chrysaetos,  81. 
Asio  accipitrinus,  38. 

wilsonianus,  129. 


B 

Bonasa  umbellus,  53. 

umbellus  togata,  54. 
Bubo  virginianus,  130. 
Buteo  borealis,  125. 

borealis  harlani,  125. 

brachyurus,  127. 

latissimus,  127. 

lineatus,  126. 

lineatus  alleni,  126. 

swainsoni,  126. 


Campephilus  principalis,  loo. 
Cardinalis  cardinalis,  147. 

cardinalis  floridanus,  148. 
Carpodacus  purpureus,  142. 
Catharista  atrata,  58. 
Cathartes  aura,  57. 
Ceophloeus  pileatus,  103. 
Certhia  familiaris  amcricana,  108. 
Ceryle  alcyon,  83. 
Chastura  pelagica,  84. 
Chelidon  erythrogaster,  89. 


Chondestes  grammacus,  47. 
Chordeiles  virginianus,  39. 

virginianus  chapmani,  40. 
Circus  hudsonius,  37. 
Cistothorus  palustris,  79. 

palustris  griseus,  80. 

palustris  mariana;,  80. 

stellaris,  79. 
Clivicola  riparia,  90. 
Coccyzus  americanus,  135. 

erythrophthalmus,  135. 

minor,  134. 

minor  maynardi,  134. 
Colaptes  auratus,  104. 
Colinus  virginianus,  35. 

virginianus  floridanus,  36. 
Columba  leucocephala,  132. 
Columbigallina  passerina  terrestris,  56. 
Compsothlypis  americana,  120. 
Contopus  borealis,  172. 

virens,  173. 

Conurus  carolinensis,  134. 
Corvus  americanus,  131. 

americanus  floridanus,  131. 
Corvus  corax  principalis,  86. 

ossifragus,  131. 
Cyanocitta  cristata,  138. 

cristata  florincola,  138. 


D 

Dendragapus  canadensis,  52. 
Dendroica  aestiva,  155. 

blackburniae,  1 60. 

caerulea,  158. 

caerulescens,  156. 

castanea,  159. 

coronata,  157. 

discolor,  163. 

dominica,  161. 

dominica  albilora,  162. 

maculosa,  157. 

pensylvanica,  159. 

striata,  160. 

vigorsii,  163. 

virens,  162. 

Dolichonyx  oryzivorus,  41. 
Dryobates  borealis,  101. 

181 


Index  to  Scientific  Names 


Dryobates  pubescens,  101. 
pubescens  medianus,  101. 
villosus,  100. 
villosus  audubonii,  101. 


Ectopistes  migratorius,  132. 
Elanoides  forficatus,  122. 
Elanus  leucurus,  122. 
Empidonax  flaviventris,  86. 

minimus,  174. 

traillii  alnorum,  137. 

virescens,  114. 


Falco  columbarius,  82. 

peregrinus  anatum,  81. 
sparverius,  96. 


Galeoscoptes  carolinensis,  167. 
Geothlypis  formosa,  69. 

Philadelphia,  164. 

trichas,  69. 

trichas  ignota,  70. 
Geotrygon  martinica,  133. 
Guiraca  caerulea,  149. 

H 

Habia  ludoviciana,  148. 
Haliaeetus  leucocephalus,  128. 
Harporhyncus  rufus,  50. 
Helinaia  swainsonii,  154. 
Helminthophila  bachmani,  154. 

chrysoptera,  67. 

lawrencei,  68. 

leucobronchialis,  68. 

peregrina,  155. 

pinus,  66. 

ruficapilla,  68. 
Helmitherus  vermivorus,  65. 


Icteria  virens,  164. 
Icterus  galbula,  115. 

spurius,  115. 
Ictina  mississippiensis,  123. 


Junco  hyemalis,  61. 

hyemalis  carolinensis,  61. 


Lanius  ludovicianus,  153. 
Loxia  curvirostra  minor,  142. 
leucoptera,  143. 

M 

Megascops  asio,  98. 

asio  floridanus,  99. 
Melanerpes  carolinus,  104. 

erythrocephalus,  103. 
Meleagris  gallopavo,  55. 

gallopavo  osceola,  55. 
Melospiza  fasciata,  49. 

georgiana,  63. 

lincolni,  62. 

Merula  migratoria,  170. 
Mimus  polyglottos,  167. 
Mniotilta  varia,  65. 
Molothrus  ater,  175. 
Myiarchus  crinitus,  105. 

N 
Nyctala  acadica,  98. 


Otocoris  alpestris  praticola,  40. 


Pandion  haliaetus  carolinensis,  129. 
Parus  atricapillus,  in. 

bicolor,  no. 

carolinensis,   112. 

hudsonicus,  112. 
Passer  domesticus,  87. 
Passerina  ciris,  151. 

cyanea,  150. 

Perisoreus  canadensis,  139. 
Petrochelidon  lunifrons,  88. 
Peucsea  sestivalis,  62. 

aestivalis  bachmani,  74. 
Picoides  americanus,  102. 

arcticus,  102. 
Pinicola  enucleator,i4i. 
Pipilo  erythrophthalmus,  64. 

erythrophthalmus  alleni,  64. 
Piranga  erythromelas,  151. 

rubra,  152. 

Polioptila  cserulea,  174. 
Polyborus  cheriway,  128. 
Poocsetes  gramineus,  42. 
Progne  cryptoleuca,  88. 

subis,  87. 
Protonotaria  citrea,  107. 


182 


Index  to  Scientific  Names 


Quiscalus  major,  141. 
quiscula,  140. 
quiscula  aeneus,  141. 
quiscula  aglaeus,  140. 


Regulus  calendula,  121. 

satrapa,  120. 
Rostrhamus  sociabilis,  77. 


Sayornis  phcebe,  85. 
Seiurus  aurocapillus,  75. 

motacilla,  92. 

noveboracensis,  91. 

noveboracensis  notabilis,  91. 
Setophaga  ruticilla,  166. 
Sialis  sialis,  112. 
Sitta  canadensis,  109. 

carolinensis,  109. 
Sitta  carolinensis  atkinsi,  109. 

pusilla,  no. 

Speotyto  cunicularia  floridana,  83. 
Sphyrapicus  varius,  103. 
Spinus  pinus,  144. 

tristis,  143. 
Spiza  americana,  50. 
Spizella  pallida,  146. 

pusilla,  48. 

socialis,  145. 

Stelgidopteryx  serripennis,  90. 
Strix  pratincola,  82. 
Sturnella  magna,  73. 
Sylvania  canadensis,  92. 

mitrata,  165. 


Syrnium  nebulosum,  97. 
nebulosum  alleni,  98. 


Tachycineta  bicolor,  89. 
Thryothorus  bewickii,  93. 

ludovicianus,  93. 

ludovicianus  miamensis,  93. 
Trochilus  colubris,  172. 
Troglodytes,  aedon,  94. 

hiemalis,  94. 
Turdus  alicice  bicknelli,  170. 

aonalaschkas  pallasii,  72. 

fuscescens,  71. 

mustelinus,  169. 

ustulatus  swainsonii,  170. 
Tympanuchus  araericanus,  36. 

cupido,  54. 
Tyrannus  dominicensis,  137. 

tyrannus,  136. 


Vireo  calidris  barbatulus,  116. 
flavifrons,  118. 
gilvus,  1 1 8. 
noveboracensis,  119. 
noveboracensis  maynardi,  120. 
olivaceus,  117. 
philadelphicus,  117. 
solitarius,  118. 
solitarius  alticola,  119. 


Zenaida  zenaida,  133. 
Zenaidara  macroura,  133. 
Zonotrichia  albicollis,  60. 


183 


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